Eating frequency, energy intake and body weight during a successful weight loss trial in overweight and obese postpartum women

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To examine associations among eating frequency, energy intake and body weight at baseline, as well as associations among change in eating frequency and change in energy intake and weight during a 12-week successful weight loss intervention in overweight and obese postpartum women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Sixty-one Swedish women with pre-pregnancy body mass index of 25-35 kg/m 2 completed a 4-day diet record at 10-14 weeks postpartum (baseline) and 12 weeks later (post-intervention), which were used to calculate energy intake and eating frequency, that is, the mean number of intake occasions per day. RESULTS: The women had a mean eating frequency of 5. 9±1. 2 intake occasions at baseline. A positive association was found between eating frequency and energy intake at baseline (β: 307±46 kcal, P<0. 001), whereas no significant association between eating frequency and weight was observed (β: 2. 3±1. 2 kg, P=0. 063). During the intervention period, reduced eating frequency was positively associated with energy intake reduction (β: 169±69 kcal, P=0. 017) whereas no significant association was found with weight loss (β: 0. 9±0. 7 kg, P=0. 179). Women receiving dietary intervention reduced their eating frequency more during the intervention period than did women not receiving dietary intervention (-1. 0±0. 7 vs -0. 5±1. 1, P=0. 001). CONCLUSIONS: A positive association was found between eating frequency and energy intake at baseline and between reduced eating frequency and reduced energy intake during a 12-week weight loss intervention in overweight and obese postpartum women. Intervention studies on eating frequency are warranted to elucidate its effect on energy intake and weight among postpartum women. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.