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

INTRODUCTION Obesity is an increasing health problem globally, (1) contributing to a significant reduction in life expectancy due to type 2 diabetes, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases and certain types of [...]
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.sup.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±46kcal, P 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. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014) 68, 71-76; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.200; published online 6 November 2013 Keywords: eating frequency; energy intake; weight loss; overweight; obesity; postpartum