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Biological effects of a maternal ED on pregnancy and foetal development: a review

Nadia Micali1, Janet Treasure

  • 1Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK. N.Micali@iop.kcl.ac.uk

European Eating Disorders Review : the Journal of the Eating Disorders Association
|October 24, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Maternal eating disorders (EDs) during pregnancy can significantly impact fetal development, potentially leading to long-term health issues for the child. This review highlights biological risk mechanisms requiring further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Clinical Nutrition

Background:

  • Maternal eating disorders (EDs) during pregnancy present complex challenges for both mother and fetus.
  • Comorbidities associated with EDs can further complicate perinatal outcomes.
  • Understanding the biological impact on the fetus is crucial for long-term offspring health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing literature on the biological effects of maternal EDs on the fetus.
  • To identify potential risk mechanisms for long-term consequences in offspring.
  • To propose a developmental model for these adverse outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search using PubMed, PsychInfo, and Google Scholar.
  • Manual review of relevant research papers.
  • Synthesis of findings on EDs, psychopathology, and perinatal outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Maternal EDs during pregnancy are associated with significant biological effects on the fetus.
  • Potential risk mechanisms for long-term nutritional and psychopathological outcomes in offspring were identified.
  • A developmental model illustrating these risks was proposed.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal EDs during pregnancy likely exert important long-term biological influences on fetal development.
  • Further research is essential to elucidate the specific biological risk mechanisms involved.
  • Clarifying these mechanisms can inform interventions to mitigate long-term risks for offspring.

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