Review of the Effects of Dairy and Exercise on Body Composition in Lactating Women

Obesity in the U.S. has risen to epidemic levels over the past ten years, and, for women, childbearing itself may be a contributing factor. Breastfeeding is therefore recommended for the first six months and has been shown to help reduce long-term maternal weight retention from pregnancy. Conversely, lactation represents a period of increased bone loss, specifically of the lumbar spine and hip. Lactation alters bone mineral density due to the increased demand for calcium in breast milk, and up to 400 mg/day of calcium loss from the maternal skeleton can occur as a result. Dairy intake and weight-bearing exercise have been shown to provide bone protection in premenopausal women. The purpose of this project was thus to conduct a review of the literature on the effects of dairy and exercise on body composition during lactation.