Quality of low‐carbohydrate diets among Australian post‐partum women: Cross‐sectional analysis of a national population‐based cohort study
Abstract Low‐carbohydrate diets (LCDs) are popular among people attempting weight loss and recommended for pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GDM), but they may increase health risks if nutritionally inadequate. We aimed to describe the dietary intake of post‐partum women according to their r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13502 |
| _version_ | 1827927280021667840 |
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| author | Sophie Lewandowski Elizabeth Neale Ellie D'Arcy Allison M. Hodge Danielle A. J. M. Schoenaker |
| author_facet | Sophie Lewandowski Elizabeth Neale Ellie D'Arcy Allison M. Hodge Danielle A. J. M. Schoenaker |
| author_sort | Sophie Lewandowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Low‐carbohydrate diets (LCDs) are popular among people attempting weight loss and recommended for pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GDM), but they may increase health risks if nutritionally inadequate. We aimed to describe the dietary intake of post‐partum women according to their relative carbohydrate intake, overall, and among women attempting weight loss or diagnosed with GDM in their recent pregnancy. This cross‐sectional population‐based cohort study included 2093 post‐partum women aged 25–36 years who participated in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Relative carbohydrate intake was determined using a previously developed LCD score. Data were weighted to account for oversampling of women from rural/remote areas. More than half of women (n[weighted] = 1362, 66.3%) were trying to lose weight, and 4.6% (n[weighted]=88) had GDM in their recent pregnancy. Women with the lowest relative carbohydrate intake (LCD score quartile 4) consumed 36.8% of total energy intake from carbohydrates, and had a lower intake of refined grains, whole grains, fruit and fruit juice, and a higher intake of red and processed meat, compared with women with the highest relative carbohydrate intake (quartile 1). Different food groups, both healthy and unhealthy, were restricted depending on whether women were attempting weight loss and had recent GDM. These findings may reflect a lack of knowledge among post‐partum women on carbohydrates and dietary guidelines. Health professionals may have an important role in providing advice and support for post‐partum women who wish to restrict their carbohydrate intake, to ensure optimal diet quality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:50:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2b0d4a7f66f34ddb865b2718a4241c56 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1740-8695 1740-8709 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:50:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-2b0d4a7f66f34ddb865b2718a4241c562023-06-13T13:13:45ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092023-07-01193n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13502Quality of low‐carbohydrate diets among Australian post‐partum women: Cross‐sectional analysis of a national population‐based cohort studySophie Lewandowski0Elizabeth Neale1Ellie D'Arcy2Allison M. Hodge3Danielle A. J. M. Schoenaker4School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong New South Wales AustraliaSchool of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong New South Wales AustraliaIntegrated Care Western New South Wales Local Health District New South Wales Dubbo AustraliaCancer Epidemiology Division Cancer Council Victoria Melbourne Victoria AustraliaSchool of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong New South Wales AustraliaAbstract Low‐carbohydrate diets (LCDs) are popular among people attempting weight loss and recommended for pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GDM), but they may increase health risks if nutritionally inadequate. We aimed to describe the dietary intake of post‐partum women according to their relative carbohydrate intake, overall, and among women attempting weight loss or diagnosed with GDM in their recent pregnancy. This cross‐sectional population‐based cohort study included 2093 post‐partum women aged 25–36 years who participated in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Relative carbohydrate intake was determined using a previously developed LCD score. Data were weighted to account for oversampling of women from rural/remote areas. More than half of women (n[weighted] = 1362, 66.3%) were trying to lose weight, and 4.6% (n[weighted]=88) had GDM in their recent pregnancy. Women with the lowest relative carbohydrate intake (LCD score quartile 4) consumed 36.8% of total energy intake from carbohydrates, and had a lower intake of refined grains, whole grains, fruit and fruit juice, and a higher intake of red and processed meat, compared with women with the highest relative carbohydrate intake (quartile 1). Different food groups, both healthy and unhealthy, were restricted depending on whether women were attempting weight loss and had recent GDM. These findings may reflect a lack of knowledge among post‐partum women on carbohydrates and dietary guidelines. Health professionals may have an important role in providing advice and support for post‐partum women who wish to restrict their carbohydrate intake, to ensure optimal diet quality.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13502carbohydrate qualitygestational diabeteslow‐carbohydrate dietpost‐partumweight loss |
| spellingShingle | Sophie Lewandowski Elizabeth Neale Ellie D'Arcy Allison M. Hodge Danielle A. J. M. Schoenaker Quality of low‐carbohydrate diets among Australian post‐partum women: Cross‐sectional analysis of a national population‐based cohort study Maternal and Child Nutrition carbohydrate quality gestational diabetes low‐carbohydrate diet post‐partum weight loss |
| title | Quality of low‐carbohydrate diets among Australian post‐partum women: Cross‐sectional analysis of a national population‐based cohort study |
| title_full | Quality of low‐carbohydrate diets among Australian post‐partum women: Cross‐sectional analysis of a national population‐based cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Quality of low‐carbohydrate diets among Australian post‐partum women: Cross‐sectional analysis of a national population‐based cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quality of low‐carbohydrate diets among Australian post‐partum women: Cross‐sectional analysis of a national population‐based cohort study |
| title_short | Quality of low‐carbohydrate diets among Australian post‐partum women: Cross‐sectional analysis of a national population‐based cohort study |
| title_sort | quality of low carbohydrate diets among australian post partum women cross sectional analysis of a national population based cohort study |
| topic | carbohydrate quality gestational diabetes low‐carbohydrate diet post‐partum weight loss |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13502 |
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