Incidence and demographic correlates of eating disorder symptoms in a pregnant population

Objective: To obtain a picture of eating disorder symptoms in a population of pregnant women. Method: Five hundred thirty women attending antenatal fo llow-up clinics at a large London district general hospital during a 4-week period were surveyed. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) the Edinburgh Postna tal Depression Scale (EPDS), and a demographic questionnaire were administe red. Unadjusted relative risks and their 95% confidence intervals were calc ulated for a series of prognostic factors. Results: 4.9% of women scored ab ove the recommended threshold on the EAT in pregnancy. Eating disorder symp tomatology was found to be associated with younger age, previous symptomato logy, lower educational attainment, poorer housing, employment status, and previous miscarriage. Discussion: The meaning and potential implications of high levels of eating disorder symptomatology in a pregnant population are discussed in the light of the physiological and psychological effects of e ating disorders on both pregnancy outcome and infant development. (C) 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.