Loss of control over eating before and during early pregnancy among community women with overweight and obesity.
This study examined the prevalence of and changes in loss of control over eating (LOC) among pregnant women with overweight/obesity, along with associations between LOC and depressive symptoms and stress.



Community women (N = 200; body mass index ≥ 25; 12-20 weeks gestation) reported LOC before and during early pregnancy using the Eating Disorder Examination, which was adapted for administration in pregnancy. Women self-reported depressive symptoms and stress during early pregnancy.



Twenty-eight percent (n = 56) of women reported LOC before or during early pregnancy: 14.5% (n = 29) reported LOC incidence during early pregnancy, 9.5% (n = 19) reported LOC persistence from prepregnancy to early pregnancy, and 4.0% (n = 8) reported LOC prepregnancy only. Women with LOC reported more depressive symptoms and stress than did those without. Women with LOC persistence reported clinically significant depressive symptoms and elevated stress. Levels of depressive symptoms and stress differed between women with LOC persistence and those without LOC (ps < 0.05).



LOC during pregnancy was prevalent and associated with distress, particularly when present before and during pregnancy. Among women with LOC, few reported remission, but one-half reported onset during early pregnancy. Longitudinal studies are needed among mothers with overweight/obesity to identify patterns of LOC throughout pregnancy and how LOC affects perinatal outcomes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.(Int J Eat Disord 2017; 50:582-586).
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Rachel P
0000-0002-5107-1146
RP
Kolko
Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Rebecca L
RL
Emery
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Marsha D
MD
Marcus
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Michele D
MD
Levine
D000328:Adult; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000209:etiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*
Loss of control; community sample; obesity; overweight; pregnancy
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