Inappropriate eating behaviors during pregnancy: prevalence and associated factors among pregnant women attending primary care in southern Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of inappropriate eating behaviors and associated factors among pregnant women in primary care.


METHODS
The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire was used to assess eating disorders and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders was used to examine anxiety and depressive symptoms. Body mass index (BMI) and pregestational weight were also assessed.


RESULTS
Prevalence of binge eating during pregnancy was 17.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 14.5-20.0], followed by excessive shape (5.6%; 95% CI 4-8) and weight concerns (5.5%; 95% CI 4-8). Binge eating during pregnancy was significantly associated with binge eating before pregnancy [prevalence ratio (PR) = 3.1; 95% CI 2.2-4.3], current anxiety symptoms (PR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.3-2.4), and prepregnancy BMI < 19.8 kg/m(2) (PR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.5). The prevalence of eating disorders was 0.6% (95% CI 0.01-1.11).


CONCLUSIONS
Eating disorder symptoms should be routinely assessed and treated during prenatal care, along with other comorbid psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety.
Soares
Rafael Marques
RM
Post Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil.
Nunes
Maria Angélica
MA
Schmidt
Maria Inês
MI
Giacomello
Andressa
A
Manzolli
Patrícia
P
Camey
Suzi
S
Buss
Caroline
C
Drehmer
Michele
M
Melere
Cristiane
C
Hoffman
Juliana
J
Ozcariz
Silvia
S
Manenti
Carlo Nunes
CN
Pinheiro
Andréa Poyastro
AP
Duncan
Bruce Bartholow
BB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult