Experiences of pregnancy-related body shape changes and of breast-feeding in women with a history of eating disorders

• Published in: European eating disorders review Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 116 - 124
• Main Authors: Larsson, Gunilla, Andersson-Ellström, Agneta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.03.2003
• Subjects: body shape; breast-feeding; eating disorder; pregnancy; weight
• ISSN: 1072-4133; 1099-0968
• DOI: 10.1002/erv.497

In spite of the growing problems of eating disorders in society, no publications have reported the cumulative prevalence of eating disorders among childbearing women. The condition may constitute a risk during pregnancy and the childbirth period. This study examined the frequency of self‐reported eating disorder histories in women who had been delivered 3–7 months earlier as well as their experiences of body shape changes and breast feeding and the length of the breast‐feeding periods. Five hundred and sixteen women were invited to participate, of whom 454 responded to a questionnaire (88 per cent). A history of an eating disorder was reported by 11.5 per cent of the respondents, with a predominance of younger women. Significantly fewer women among those reporting an eating disorder breast‐fed their 3‐month‐old baby. However, no difference was seen regarding feelings related to the transformed body shape. Almost all women described such feelings as positive. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.