The impact of becoming a mother on eating problems.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the relationship between becoming a mother and changes in eating problems.


METHODS
A sample of 1,206 initially childless Norwegian women was followed over a six-year period and growth curve analyses were conducted.


RESULTS
Participants who became mothers over the course of the study showed a greater reduction in eating problems compared to still childless women. This relationship could be explained by a corresponding decrease in alcohol usage and impulsiveness in mothers compared to childless women. At the same time, appearance satisfaction increased comparatively less in mothers, resulting in turn in a reduction of the effect of motherhood on changes in eating problems.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that motherhood has on the whole a positive effect on eating problems.
von Soest
Tilmann
T
Norwegian Social Research (NOVA), Oslo, Norway. tvs@nova.no
Wichstrøm
Lars
L
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires