Energy balance
Lactating women with adequate fat reserves can sustain milk volume and energy output despite moderate negative energy balance (gradual weight loss up to 0.5 kg/week) without adverse effects on lactation performance.
If you are breastfeeding and have healthy body fat levels, you can safely lose weight at a moderate pace (up to 1 pound per week) without harming your milk supply. Your body will use stored fat to help produce milk. Avoid rapid weight loss or very low calorie intakes (below 1500 kcal/day) if you want to ensure volume remains stable.
To summarize, the evidence to date indicates that, in women with adequate fat reserves, gradual weight loss (up to 0.5 kg/week) is not likely to have any adverse consequences on lactation.
Why this rating
Based on multiple observational studies and animal models, though human randomized controlled trials are limited by ethical and methodological constraints.
Source
ENERGY AND PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS DURING LACTATION
Kathryn G. Dewey · Annual Review of Nutrition · 1997
DOI 10.1146/annurev.nutr.17.1.19
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