Eating Disorder In Pregnancy: Pregorexia

Abstract

Pregorexia, known as anorexia nervosa in pregnancy, defines pregnant women who limit their food intake and engage in activities that increase energy expenditure to control their weight gain during pregnancy. Skipping meals, avoiding eating, applying compensatory behaviors and body image disorders are common in pregnant women with this eating disorder. Pregnant women in the risk group should be followed up with a multidisciplinary team and their food consumption should be evaluated regularly. Considering the differing physiological processes during pregnancy, the energy and nutrient needs of the pregnant women increase due to the plasma volume enlargement and the decrease in the nutrient stores. Pregnant women with eating disorders should be supported in terms of nutrition and nutrients. Not only during pregnancy, but also after birth, the mother’s caregiving process and the effects on health of the baby should be considered. However, the lack of a tool developed for the diagnosis of pregorexia causes many deficiencies in the definition and management of the disease. Therefore, there is a need for further research on this subject.