Researchers Warn 9% of Women Face Eating Disorders as Pregorexia Threatens Pregnancy
Updated
Updated · streamlinefeed.co.ke · Jun 18
Researchers Warn 9% of Women Face Eating Disorders as Pregorexia Threatens Pregnancy
3 articles · Updated · streamlinefeed.co.ke · Jun 18
Summary
Pregorexia is drawing increasing medical alarm as an overlooked eating disorder in pregnancy, with researchers warning it can endanger both mother and fetus through severe food restriction and compulsive exercise.
Hormonal upheaval, brain changes, sleep loss and rapid body changes during gestation can reactivate body-image trauma, while shame often keeps women from disclosing symptoms to gynecologists.
For mothers, malnutrition can trigger anemia, bone loss, cardiac arrhythmias and higher risks of postpartum depression or psychosis; for fetuses, it raises miscarriage, growth restriction, low birth weight and premature delivery risks.
About 9% of women worldwide experience a clinically significant eating disorder at some point, and experts say pregnancy is one of the key biological transition periods when screening and mental-health support should be built into prenatal care.