[Perinatal consequences of eating disorders during pregnancy]

Eating disorders are a group of mental illnesses that significantly affect an individual’s emotional, psychological and physical well-being; they typically occur in women and are the most common during the reproductive years. The prevalence of eating disorders during pregnancy is 7.5–11.5%. Food aversion occurs in 70–85% of pregnant women, nausea in 100%, and increased salivation (ptyalism) in 40%. The treatment of eating disorders during pregnancy is a significant challenge, as it can lead to dangerous conditions and even maternal or fetal death. Today, there is no obstetrician who has not encountered a pregnant woman suffering from an eating disorder. However, the knowledge gained during basic and professional training about the diagnosis and treatment of this disease is minimal. The aim of the paper is to present the different forms of eating disorders and their effects on the mother, the fetus, the outcome of pregnancy, the process of childbirth and the newborn, based on the literature. It lists the screening tools available in our country and the signs of eating disorders that are valuable for those providing prenatal care. The treatment of pregnant women with eating disorders is effective when it is carried out by a multidisciplinary team, the members of which take into account the interests of both the mother and the unborn child. At the end of the paper, the author makes suggestions for practice and highlights when hospital treatment of pregnant women with eating disorders is necessary. Orv Hetil. 2025; 166(40): 1582–1589.