title: Energy intake and expenditure of free-living, lactating Colombian women in an urban setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the components of energy balance during lactation in a population of economically disadvantaged women in an urban developing country setting in order to better understand the metabolic response to lactation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional comparison of lactating (LACT) and non-pregnant non-lactating (NPNL) women. Body size and composition were assessed via anthropometry, energy intake was measured using estimated diet records and energy expenditure using indirect calorimetry and the Flex-Heart Rate method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Low-income neighborhoods of Cali, Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lactating women (n=15) studied at 2.4+/-0.8, 5.5+/-0.8 and 8.9+/-1.2 months postpartum, and NPNL women (n=48) studied in three measurement rounds at 0, 3.5+/-0.6 and 7.1+/-1.0 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between LACT and NPNL women in anthropometric dimensions, but LACT women showed decreases in waist-hip ratio, lean body mass and increases in mid-arm circumference and percentage body fat with time. Energy intake was higher in LACT women (P=0.04), but there were no significant between-group differences in energy expenditure variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This group of women met the cost of lactation principally via increased energy intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA. darna.dufour@colorado.edu
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reina
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Spurr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011203:Poverty; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins