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Infant growth in the context of maternal eating disorders and maternal depression: a comparative study
Insights
Infants born to mothers with eating disorders show significant growth faltering compared to other groups. This study found no evidence that maternal eating disorder psychopathology directly causes infant growth issues.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Perinatal Mental Health
- Pediatric Growth
Background:
- Maternal eating disorders are linked to infant growth issues.
- The specificity of this relationship requires further investigation.
- Understanding the mechanisms behind growth disturbance is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if growth faltering in infants is specific to mothers with eating disorders.
- To compare infants of mothers with eating disorders to those with post-natal depression and a healthy comparison group.
- To explore potential mechanisms linking maternal eating disorders to infant growth disturbances.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study design.
- Inclusion of three groups: infants of mothers with eating disorders, infants of mothers with post-natal depression, and a large comparison group.
- Assessment of infant growth parameters (weight for length, weight for age) and maternal perceptions of child size and shape.
Main Results:
- Infants of mothers with eating disorders exhibited significantly lower weight for length and weight for age compared to both control groups.
- Mothers with eating disorders did not show a preference for smaller children or dissatisfaction with their child's shape.
- Mothers with eating disorders were more accurate in judging their children's size, and these maternal factors did not predict child growth.
Conclusions:
- The observed growth disturbance in infants of mothers with eating disorders is specific and not directly explained by maternal psychopathology extension.
- The mechanisms underlying growth faltering in this population require further research beyond direct maternal psychological influence.
- Findings suggest a complex interplay of factors influencing infant growth in the context of maternal eating disorders.
Abstract:
There is evidence of growth faltering in infants of mothers with eating disorders. The aim of the current study was to examine whether this is a specific relationship. Thus, the infants of mothers with eating disorders were compared with infants of mothers with post-natal depression and a large comparison group. This study also aimed to explore possible mechanisms whereby growth disturbance comes about. It was found that the infants of mothers with eating disorders were smaller, both in terms of weight for length and weight for age, than either comparison group infants or infants of mothers with post-natal depression. There was little evidence, however, that mothers with eating disorders preferred smaller children or were dissatisfied with their children's shape or that they misperceived their children's size. On the contrary these mothers seemed highly sensitive to their children's shape and, compared with the other two groups, were more likely to judge their children's size accurately. None of these maternal measures significantly predicted the child's growth. The mechanism whereby growth disturbance arises in the context of eating disorders does not appear to be by means of a direct extension of the maternal psychopathology to the infant.