Pregnancy
Body Image and Eating Disorders during Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time of significant physical, emotional, and hormonal change. While it can bring excitement and joy for a growing family, it can also be a period of increased mental health challenges. Perinatal depression and anxiety affect 20% of Australian women, with even higher rates reported in the postnatal period.
For those with a history of an eating disorder or body image and eating concerns, pregnancy can be particularly challenging. Research shows that rates of return of eating disorder symptoms for those with a past eating disorder can be as high as 67% during pregnancy.
Body Image Concerns During Pregnancy
Many women experience heightened body image concerns during pregnancy. As the body changes to accommodate a growing baby, feelings of discomfort or distress about weight gain, body shape, and appearance can emerge. The pressure to maintain an ‘ideal’ pregnancy body or to quickly return to a pre-pregnancy shape can be overwhelming, particularly in a culture that often emphasises weight and appearance. These concerns can contribute to increased anxiety and may heighten the risk of eating disorder symptoms returning.
Why Pregnancy Can Trigger a Return of Eating Disorder Symptoms
Several factors contribute to an increased risk of eating disorder symptoms returning during pregnancy, including:
- Hormonal shifts:
Fluctuations in oestrogen, progesterone, and cortisol have been linked to mood changes and can potentially trigger the onset or return of eating disorder symptoms. - Body changes and weight gain:
The rapid physical changes of pregnancy can trigger body dissatisfaction and distress, particularly when coupled with societal pressures to maintain a certain ‘look’ during pregnancy. - Pregnancy symptoms that can impact appetite:
- Nausea, vomiting, reflux, and appetite changes can make it difficult for people to meet requirements for nutritional adequacy and variety.
- The need to be conscious of increased risk of exposure to food-borne illness can raise anxiety about eating
- Diet culture and social pressures
- Expectations around quickly ‘bouncing back’ to a pre-pregnancy body can fuel disordered eating thoughts and behaviours in the postpartum period
- Stress and anxiety
- Concerns about being a ‘good enough’ parent can raise anxiety in what is an already difficult period of life adjustment
- Worry about body changes and pregnancy-related symptoms can worsen these anxiety symptoms
Risks of Eating Disorders During Pregnancy
Women with an active eating disorder face increased risks during pregnancy, including the following.
Risks to Baby:
- Low birth weight
- Increased risk of premature birth
- Nutrient deficiencies potentially impacting brain and organ development
- Increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth
Risks to Mum:
- Increased risk of malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, affecting health during pregnancy and beyond
- Osteoporosis and weakened bones due to calcium loss
- Cardiac complications from electrolyte imbalances
- Increased risk of anxiety and depression, and postpartum adjustment challenges
- Breastfeeding difficulties, and problems with milk supply
- Requirements for a longer recovery period after birth
Seeking Support
While all of the above can sound very concerning, there are both nutritional and psychological strategies which can help pregnant women focus on the care they need during pregnancy, and also in the postpartum period. While the risk of eating disorders can be higher in this period, this risk is reduced in those who seek professional support early, and work with someone who is eating disorder aware during the pregnancy, to identify and respond to high risk thoughts and behaviours if they arise.
The team at Mind Body Well can help you navigate these challenges with guidance from Psychologists and Dietitians who have experience in supporting women through pregnancy, and beyond.
Our Melbourne Practice
Clinic address: 103 / 34 Queens Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004.
