title: Recognising the symptoms: how common are eating disorders in pregnancy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate eating disorder diagnostic status and related symptoms in early pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women (n=739), attending their first routine antenatal scan, were assessed using an adapted version of the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (EDDS). Prevalence estimates and eating disorder symptoms were assessed during the first 3 months of pregnancy and, retrospectively, in the 6 to 12 months prior to pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During pregnancy 7.5% of women met diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder, compared to prepregnancy prevalence of 9.2%. Approximately one quarter (23.4%) of women reported high weight and shape concern during pregnancy; binge eating was endorsed by 8.8%, and 2.3% of women engaged in regular compensatory behaviours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eating disorders are more common than previously thought in pregnancy. There is a clinical need for increased understanding of eating disorder symptomatology during pregnancy and for appropriate screening tools to be incorporated into antenatal care.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK. a.easter@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Easter
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bye
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taborelli
authors.forename: Freya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corfield
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treasure
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Micali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires