What Is Pregorexia? – Being Parents

Pregorexia is an eating disorder that can affect pregnant women when they intend to maintain their pre-pregnancy weight.

This is undoubtedly a serious problem, as many women with this disorder minimize calorie intake and exercise more. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about it.

Pregorexia: everything you need to know

First of all, it is good to know the meaning of the word pregorexia. It comes from the English pregnancy and the word anorexia. So we can understand the nature of this disorder, which includes very strict diets, extreme exercise, binge eating and laxative purges.

Pregorexia is more common in women who already had eating disorders before becoming pregnant (such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa). However, it can develop in any expectant mother, even without a history.

This eating disorder only affects a very small percentage of the female population. You still have to stay alert and watch out for this problem.

Early detection, as well as combined treatment with an obstetrician and nutritionist, can be critical in avoiding complications in the health of mother and baby.

A woman who suffers from pregorexia is considered to have a “high risk pregnancy”. In other words, while she is losing weight (or not gaining enough weight), the fetus is not getting the nutrients it needs to thrive.

Anorexia nervosa during pregnancy is more related to this “fear” of losing your figure and gaining weight while you are expecting a baby. Obviously, in many cases this fear is unfounded, because an anorexic woman has a distorted image of her own body.

What are the symptoms ?

In addition to this worry about the figure, the habits of the pregnant woman do not allow her to gain weight. This can be very dangerous, for her as well as for her child.

Here are some characteristics of pregorexia:

• Reduction or elimination of the consumption of fats, lipids and carbohydrates.
• No or very low weight gain (which is neither healthy nor expected in a pregnant woman).
• Restrictive diet lacking in vitamins and minerals.
• Constant control of calories or extra pounds.
• Excessive concern for the silhouette and the “belly” grip.

• Intense physical exercise with the goal of losing pregnancy pounds.
• Use of clothes that compress the belly, so that it does not gain weight.
• Denial that there is a real problem and that she needs help.
• Lack of energy linked to an unbalanced diet.

What are the consequences ?

This type of eating disorder that appears during pregnancy has terrible consequences, both for the mother and the fetus, because neither of them receives the necessary amount of nutrients. For women, some of the effects of pregorexia are as follows:

• Malnutrition.
• Decrease in muscle mass.
• Changes in the levels of minerals, proteins and vitamins.
• Water imbalance and decrease in the volume of amniotic fluid.
• Bone decalcification.
• Enzymatic and hormonal changes (in addition to those produced by pregnancy).

• Mood swings (irritability).
• Body and skin thermal regulation problems.
• After childbirth, the mother cannot produce milk to breastfeed the baby.

In addition, we must take into account the consequences for the fetus if the mother suffers from pregorexia, such as:

• Neurological problems related to lack of nutrients.
• Possible malformations.
• Growth retardation.
• Heart, digestive or respiratory problems due to incomplete development.
• Fetal death.
• Premature delivery and low birth weight.
• Increased risk of childhood obesity due to metabolic problems.

Can we treat and prevent pregorexia?

Pregorexia is a disease that develops psychically and emotionally, once pregorexia is detected, treatment must be done with several health professionals. We must prioritize the intervention of a therapist, which will identify the reason for the problem.

The obstetrician and nutritionist can also guide the expectant mother to adopt healthier habits and pay attention to her health and that of her baby. And, of course, the support of your partner and family is essential in this situation.