Resumen

GONZALEZ, Horacio F et al. Changes in body composition in lactating adolescent mothers Cambios en la composición corporal de puérperas adolescentes durante la lactancia. ALAN [online]. 2005, vol.55, n.3, pp.252-256. ISSN 0004-0622.

We assessed changes in body composition in lactating adolescent mothers living under unfavorable socioeconomic and sanitary conditions. A total of 17 healthy primiparous adolescents under 17 years of age attending the Maternity Hospital of the city of La Plata, Argentina, were followed at 4 time points (15 days and 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum) to assess, a) dietary intake, b) practice of physical activity, c) nutritional condition (weight, height, body mass index; BMI; according to age, and body composition by the sum of skinfold measurements), d) characteristics of lactation, and e) growth parameters of the child. The mean age of adolescents was 15.06 ± 0.66 years (mean menarchal age, 11.59 ± 0.80 years). All adolescents breastfed up to 12 months postpartum, and maternal milk covered above 80% the baby intake (mean 7.06 ± 2.54 breast feeds/day). While the daily intake of nutrients by adolescent mothers was constant up to 6 months postpartum, there was a modest decrease in that of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids 15 days and 12 months postpartum. The decrease in energetic intake during the same period was significant (p< 0.05). The practice of physical activity was classified as moderate during the follow-up period. Whereas mean basal percent of fat body mass (FBM) was 29.85 ± 2.87, and decreased significantly at 6 (27.2% ± 3.9%; p= 0.02) and 12 (26.1% ± 3.9%; p=0.002) months postpartum, changes in lean body mass (LBM) were not significant. In conclusion, lactating adolescents maintained LBM, whereas weight, FBM and BMI decreased markedly from 3 months postpartum.

Palabras clave : body composition; anthropometry; lactation; adolescent mothers; Argentina.