Pregorexia and its significance for physiological processes in the fetus - a review of current knowledge

Anorexia occurring during pregnancy can have a devastating effect on the pregnant woman's physiological clinical picture, mental health, and fetal development. This is because eating behaviors, the fetal programming process, and behavioral-cognitive relationships all contribute to shaping intrauterine conditions. Dysfunction at the neural level predisposes to a disturbed relationship with food, reduced self-acceptance, perinatal depression, and a negative perception of body image. The health consequences of reduced energy intake in the course of anorexia during pregnancy contribute to the manifestation of maternal ketonuria, ketonemia, increased excretion (excretion) of nitrogen during diuresis, decreased synthesis of gluconeogenic amino acids after starvation in pregnancy. Scientific reports confirm the destructive impact of behavioral disorders focused on significant food restriction. Medical and psychological care in pregorexia (anorexia of pregnancy) is an integral part of support during pregnancy and the perinatal period. Support includes psychoeducation and includes monitoring of weight, mental and physical health, and identified risk factors. The interdisciplinary team taking care of a pregnant woman with anorexia should include a gynecologist, midwives, a psychiatrist, a clinical nutritionist, a psychodietitian, a psychotherapist, a psychologist and involved family members. Long-term, consecutively implemented nutrition education along with the use of dedicated diagnostic tools in the form of Eating Disorders Diagnostic Scale (EDDS) and psychodietetic intervention based on motivational dialogue should be an integral part of cognitive-behavioral therapy.