I recently came across some very important data that supports my message to new mothers that losing baby weight is crucial in order to avoid potential health risks.
From this BBC News Health article:
“There may be a scientific basis for the post-pregnancy adage, ‘Nine months on, nine months off’. Doctors in Canada say three to 12 months after birth is the key time to start losing the ‘baby weight’. Mothers who fail to lose excess weight within a year after delivery or put pounds on may be risking their health, they report in Diabetes Care. Women in this group have higher blood pressure and other risk factors for later diabetes and heart disease.
Women who do not make the effort to lose weight after pregnancy actually increase their chance of developing health problems during the next pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and premature delivery.
I have been working with and educating mothers for the past 15 years on losing baby weight, starting as early as three months after delivery. My team and I also work with future mothers who are planning to have a family but need to lose weight first in order to have a healthy pregnancy.
I encourage women of all ages, whether they just had a baby, had one five years ago or plan to have one soon, to start eating healthy now and to focus on living an active lifestyle – before, during and after pregnancy.
I want women to know that losing baby weight isn’t as cumbersome as they think it is.
Want to talk more about this topic? I’d love to hear from you!
