Nutrition recommendations for a healthy pregnancy and lactation in women with overweight and obesity – strategies for weight loss before and after pregnancy

A healthy eating pattern is recommended for all life stages and is central to achieving optimal pregnancy outcomes and successful lactation. The preconception period is a critical window of time during which good nutritional status benefits both the mother and the offspring. The ongoing overweight and obesity epidemic, especially in conjunction with poor nutritional status, presents maternal and infant health risks. Preconception and postpartum weight loss are routinely recommended in clinical practice. In this review, we discuss the nutritional recommendations for healthy weight loss during these periods. Unhealthy weight loss during preconception and for lactating women, postpartum, can cause adverse maternal consequences that can impact the offspring.