Better Understanding Female Obesity Before, During, and After Pregnancy
Understanding female obesity, especially around pregnancy, is crucial in tackling the obesity epidemic in the United States. Researchers are increasingly finding that probiotic bacteria might be key to understanding and preventing weight gain.
The Study About Probiotics During Pregnancy
In 2009, Kirsi Laitinen, a nutritionist at the University of Turku in Finland, found a link between probiotic supplements during early pregnancy and weight loss after birth. She and her team studied 256 pregnant women in their first trimester. These women were divided into three groups. The first group received both probiotics and dietary counseling tailored for pregnant women. The second group got dietary counseling and a placebo instead of probiotics. The third group, the control group, received a placebo and no counseling.
The women were weighed at the start of the study and continued taking either probiotics or placebo until they stopped exclusively breastfeeding. At the end of this period, they were weighed again, and their waist circumference and skin-fold thickness were measured. Comparing these measurements with those taken at the beginning, Laitinen’s team found a 15% or greater reduction in obesity in the first group compared to the other two groups.
Long Term Conclusions of the Study
Laitinen believes that the transfer of bacteria from mother to child through the umbilical cord during pregnancy and breast milk afterward is a significant factor in this weight loss. However, she cautions that more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions. Since the study ended, her team has continued to monitor the health of the mothers and their children. They hope their findings will encourage further research into using probiotic supplements to combat obesity in pregnant and nursing women, their children, and society at large.
Kirsi Laitinen, a senior lecturer at the University of Turku, stated, “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 study is not the first to highlight the health benefits of probiotics. Previous research has shown that probiotics can enhance the immune system, prevent eczema, improve digestion, reduce yeast infections, alleviate common intestinal disorders, and even combat bad breath.
Personal Note
When my wife was pregnant, she took two capsules of Latero-Flora every other morning. We still take these probiotics at least once a week and give our kids one capsule one to two times a week. Whether or not you decide to take a probiotic supplement, I highly recommend adding more probiotic foods to your daily diet.
