Does dieting during lactation put infant growth at risk?

For some women, postpartum retention of weight gained during pregnancy may contribute to obesity. A recent 10-week randomized intervention showed that infants of initially overweight, lactating mothers who exercised and diete d to lose an average of 0.5 kg/week grew normally. The findings of this stu dy support the Institute of Medicine guidelines for weight loss in overweig ht women who are exclusively breast-feeding their child.