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Smoking during pregnancy and bulimia nervosa in offspring

Scott M Montgomery1, Anna Ehlin, Anders Ekbom

  • 1Clinical Research Center, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden. scott.montgomery@medks.ki.se

Journal of Perinatal Medicine
|May 26, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of bulimia nervosa in offspring by age 30. Smoking cessation before or during pregnancy is crucial for reducing this risk.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Psychiatry
  • Developmental Neuroscience

Background:

  • Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a known risk factor for various adverse offspring outcomes.
  • The impact of prenatal smoking on appetite and impulse control suggests a potential link to eating disorders like bulimia nervosa.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between smoking during pregnancy and the development of bulimia nervosa in offspring.
  • To determine if this association persists after controlling for confounding factors such as maternal psychiatric morbidity and offspring body mass index (BMI).

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study of 4046 female offspring born in April 1970.
  • Bulimia nervosa was assessed at age 30 years.
  • Statistical analysis adjusted for potential confounders including maternal psychiatric history and offspring BMI.

Main Results:

  • Smoking during pregnancy was significantly associated with an increased risk of bulimia nervosa in offspring by age 30.
  • Mothers who smoked throughout pregnancy (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.47-4.74) and those who quit during pregnancy (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.16-7.95) showed higher risks compared to non-smokers.
  • No significant association was found between smoking during pregnancy and anorexia nervosa.
  • Neither offspring BMI nor BMI changes explained the observed association.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal smoking exposure is associated with an elevated risk of developing bulimia nervosa in adulthood.
  • The findings suggest that the association may be mediated by compromised central nervous system development affecting impulse and appetite regulation.
  • Early smoking cessation, ideally before conception, is critical for mitigating risks to offspring's long-term health and behavior.

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