Changes in Eating Disorder Symptoms in Perinatal US Military Servicewomen

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Psychiatry
• Eating Disorder Research
• Military Health

Background:

• The perinatal period presents heightened vulnerability for eating disorder symptoms.
• US military servicewomen face elevated risks for eating disorders compared to civilians.
• No prior research has examined eating disorder symptom changes in servicewomen during the perinatal period.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in eating disorder symptoms among active-duty US servicewomen throughout the perinatal period.
• To assess binge-eating, dietary restraint, eating concerns, and body dissatisfaction across the second trimester, third trimester, and postpartum.

Main Methods:

• 192 active-duty servicewomen (ages 20-41) were enrolled between 12- and 27-weeks' gestation.
• Participants completed questionnaires on eating disorder symptoms at three perinatal time points.
• General estimating equations and linear mixed models analyzed symptom changes over time.

Main Results:

• Binge-eating frequencies remained consistently high and unchanged across all perinatal periods.
• Eating concerns showed no significant changes over time.
• Avoidance of eating/dietary restraint and body dissatisfaction significantly increased postpartum.

Conclusions:

• While binge-eating and eating concerns were stable, postpartum increases in body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint were observed in servicewomen.
• These findings align with military policies mandating return to fitness standards post-childbirth.
• Postpartum screening for eating disorder symptoms is recommended for military populations.