Review: dietary restriction, with or without aerobic exercise, promotes weight loss in postpartum women
A R Amorim
Correspondence to: Dr A R Amorim, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; AAR@ipm.regionh.dk
QUESTION
Are diet and/or exercise effective for weight reduction in postpartum women?
METHODS
Data sources:
Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group’s Trial Register (including searches of Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, 30 journals, and proceedings of major conferences) (September 2006), LILACS (2006), reference lists, and experts.
Study selection and assessment:
randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-randomised trials that evaluated interventions involving diet (advice, counselling, or prescription of a calorie-restricted diet) and/or exercise (counselling or structured programmes) in postpartum women (⩽12 mo after birth of a healthy singleton term infant) ⩾18 years of age who were overweight, obese, or had gained excessive weight during pregnancy. Excluded were studies involving women who were underweight before pregnancy, exercise interventions for pelvic or back pain or urinary incontinence, or interventions combined with medication. 6 RCTs (n = 245) met the selection criteria; duration of the intervention ranged from 11 days to 11 …
