Better Understanding Female Obesity Before, During, and After Pregnancy
Understanding female obesity, particularly around pregnancy, is a crucial step in addressing the growing obesity crisis in the United States. Researchers are increasingly finding that probiotic bacteria may play a significant role in understanding and preventing weight gain.
The Study About Probiotics During Pregnancy
In 2009, Nutritionist Kirsi Laitinen from the University of Turku in Finland discovered a link between probiotic supplements during early pregnancy and postpartum weight loss. In her study, 256 pregnant women in their first trimester were selected and randomly divided into three groups. The first group received both probiotic supplements and dietary counseling tailored for expectant mothers. The second group received dietary counseling and a placebo, while the third group served as a control, receiving a placebo but no counseling.
Each woman was weighed at the start of the study and continued taking either probiotic or placebo supplements until they stopped breastfeeding exclusively. At this point, their weight, waist circumference, and skin-fold thickness were measured again. Laitinen and her team found a 15 percent or greater reduction in obesity among the women in the first group compared to the other two groups.
Obesity and Childhood
Obesity is harmful at any age, but it is especially detrimental during early childhood. Research indicates that obese children are more likely to become obese adults. Additionally, there is a strong connection between maternal obesity during pregnancy, impaired fetal development, and an increased risk of obesity later in life.
Long Term Conclusions of the Study
Laitinen suggests that the exchange of bacteria between mother and child through the umbilical cord during gestation and breast milk accounts for most of this weight loss. However, she emphasizes the need for further research before drawing definitive conclusions. Her team continues to monitor the health of the participating mothers and their children. Their findings could encourage further investigation into the use of probiotics to combat obesity in pregnant and nursing women, their children, and society at large.
Kirsi Laitinen, senior lecturer at the University of Turku in Finland, states:
“The results of our study, the first to demonstrate the impact of probiotics-supplemented dietary counseling on adiposity, were encouraging. The women who got the probiotics fared best. One year after childbirth, they had the lowest levels of central obesity as well as the lowest body fat percentage… There is growing evidence that this approach might open a new angle on the fight against obesity, either through prevention or treatment.”
Health Benefits of Probiotics
This isn’t the first clinical study to highlight the health benefits of probiotics. Previous research has shown that probiotics can boost the immune system, prevent eczema, improve digestion, reduce yeast infections, alleviate common intestinal disorders, and even remedy bad breath.
Personal Note
When my wife was pregnant, she took two capsules of Latero-Flora every other morning. To this day, we continue taking these probiotics at least once a week and give our kids one capsule each 1-2 times per week. Whether or not you decide to take a probiotic supplement, I highly recommend adding more probiotic-rich foods to your daily diet.
