[Eating Disorders during Pregnancy - An underestimated Challenge]

Eating disorders occur in approximately 4.3% of pregnant women, with previously affected women representing a particularly high-risk group. Pregnancy and the postpartum period are characterized by profound physical, hormonal, and psychosocial changes that can increase the risk of developing, worsening, or recurring eating disorders. Body image, coping with weight gain, and the pressure to regain one's previous body shape are particularly important risk factors in all phases, from the time of conception to the postpartum period. Eating disorders can lead to menstrual irregularities and infertility in women, with hormonal imbalances and disordered eating behavior often being causes that also increase the risk of pregnancy complications. Women with eating disorders have a higher risk of pregnancy complications such as premature births, miscarriages, anemia, and hyperemesis gravidarum, although these risks vary depending on the type of eating disorder. The stigma and shame associated with eating disorders represent significant barriers to open communication and the use of therapeutic help. Therefore, therapists should choose a sensitive and appreciative approach, avoid stigmatization, and courageously but empathetically address possible eating disorders directly to enable early support.