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Course, risk factors, and adverse outcomes of disordered eating in pregnancy
Author(s) -
Chan Chui Yi,
Lee Antoinette M.,
Koh Yee Woen,
Lam Siu Keung,
Lee Chin Peng,
Leung Kwok Yin,
Tang Catherine So Kum
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.23065
Subject(s) - disordered eating , pregnancy , anxiety , eating disorders , postpartum period , medicine , obstetrics , depression (economics) , longitudinal study , low birth weight , postpartum depression , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , genetics , macroeconomics , pathology , economics , biology
Objective Although eating disorders in pregnancy have been studied extensively, little research attention has been given to disordered eating. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence and levels of disordered eating in the perinatal period, and to identify risk factors and adverse outcomes of disordered eating during pregnancy. Method A prospective longitudinal design with a quantitative approach was adopted. A consecutive sample of 1,470 Chinese pregnant women from hospitals in Hong Kong was assessed using standardized instruments at five time points from the first trimester to 6 months postpartum. Results The levels of disordered eating changed significantly across trimesters. Higher levels of disordered eating in pregnancy were significantly associated with higher levels of disordered eating at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum, greater anxiety and depressive symptoms, lower 1‐min Apgar scores, and abnormal birth weight. Discussion The present study pointed to the need for more research and clinical attention to antenatal disordered eating given that it is associated with anxiety, depression, postpartum disordered eating and obstetric outcomes.