Pilot study identifies preferred chrononutrition strategies for postpartum weight loss

A study has found that new mothers’ chrononutrition strategies — optimizing diets according to meal timing, frequency, and regularity — that align mostly with their existing routines show promising results for postpartum weight loss. 

The researchers argue that the findings are an important step in weight management postpartum, stressing that most new mothers often fail to return to their pre-pregnancy weight after giving birth.

They also note that women often retain the weight gained when pregnant or gain additional weight. This increases the risk of becoming overweight, obese, or developing cardiovascular health problems or complications in future pregnancies. 

“The postpartum period is an especially demanding life stage when it can be difficult for mothers to find time for traditional weight management approaches like keeping food records, counting calories, or attending weight loss counseling sessions,” explains lead investigator Camille Schneider-Worthington, Ph.D., a registered dietitian nutritionist and licensed dietitian nutritionist. She is also an assistant professor at the Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, US. 

“We wanted to examine alternative, potentially less burdensome weight management strategies that could promote mild calorie restriction, weight loss, and cardiometabolic health postpartum.”

Time-based eating

Eating patterns aligning with the metabolic circadian rhythms, including chrononutrition, have demonstrated efficiency for weight loss in previous studies, argue the authors. However, for postpartum, this field is yet unexplored.

The researchers stress that there is a lack of research surrounding eating timing for postpartum women, such as their own perception of how their eating timings may have changed after having a baby, and what they think about different chrononutrition approaches. 

The researchers interviewed 10 postpartum women, all within six months after giving birth.To close this gap, the researchers interviewed 10 postpartum women, all within six months after giving birth. They were asked about their perspective on various chrononutrition strategies, eating habits, and sleep schedules. Additionally, the women also ranked weight management approaches from most to least preferred.

The study, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, found that the most feasible approach to weight loss was choosing one that fits with the woman’s current routine, aligning with infant schedules, childcare availability, partner’s work timings, and food preparations. 

The women also stressed the importance of sharing family mealtimes, such as dinner, as a central family activity when considering chrononutrition approaches as a possibility postpartum.

The most favorable were time-restricted eating methods, including intermittent fasting — having a 10-hour window of eating consistently every day — and the chrononutrition bedtime stopping rule approach, meaning no energy intake for a certain number of hours before going to bed.

Another study published earlier this year suggested that intermittent fasting is unlikely to lead to weight loss in obese and overweight adults. The researchers compared intermittent fasting to following traditional dietary advice and making no changes. It did not appear to have a clinical effect on weight loss in either comparison. However, these findings caused a debate as multiple experts disagreed, claiming it to be vague and misleading.

Other studies have also linked the weight loss benefits of intermittent fasting to come from reducing calories rather than actually restricting the time of eating.

King’s breakfast, pauper’s dinner

The least favorable and perceived feasible approach was the “breakfast like a king, dinner like a pauper,” meaning to eat the highest caloric intake for breakfast and the lowest by dinner.

Schneider-Worthington says she was surprised by how overwhelmingly disliked the “king’s breakfast, pauper’s dinner” approach was.

The “king’s breakfast, pauper’s dinner” approach raised concerns among breastfeeding mothers about how it would impact their milk supply.“This was the only strategy that did not involve having specific eating start or stop times, but rather just redistributes the size of meals so breakfast is the largest and dinner is the smallest meal.”

“This was also the only approach that raised concerns among breastfeeding mothers about how it would impact their milk supply. Lactating mothers may require education to help dispel the belief that large evening meals or overnight eating are necessary to support overnight milk production,” she says. 

The study authors say that to confirm these results, future studies must include a larger sample spanning more geographical locations. They also stress that before choosing a chrononutrition approach when postpartum, the women should first discuss it with their health care providers.

“Chrononutrition as a tool for weight loss stands out for its simplicity and offers a range of options,” says Schneider-Worthington. 

“For many, watching the clock is easier than counting calories or keeping food diaries. This simplicity could be especially helpful postpartum, when moms are often focused on caring for their infant and other children over themselves. Time-based eating could offer a straightforward, potentially achievable strategy to help them manage weight during an especially challenging time.”