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Chapter 16 - Eating Disorders

from Section 2 - Maternal Mental Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2026

By
Catia Acosta and
Abigail Easter
Edited by
Liz McDonald,
Roch Cantwell and
Ian Jones
Liz McDonald
Affiliation:
East London NHS Foundation Trust
Roch Cantwell
Affiliation:
Perinatal Mental Health Service and West of Scotland Mother & Baby Unit
Ian Jones
Affiliation:
Cardiff University
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Summary

Eating disorders can have a profound impact on women during the pre-conception, antenatal and postnatal periods, and this has implications for their care and treatment. This chapter describes the rate, course and risk factors for eating disorders within the context of the perinatal period. It covers what is known from current research and clinical evidence about the effect of the most common eating disorders on pre-conception health, pregnancy and birth outcomes. Drawing on existing clinical guidance and research evidence, it provides an overview of the guidance and recommendations for the assessment, management and treatment of eating disorders from pre-conception through to the postnatal period.

Keywords

Eating disordersPre-conceptionAntenatalPostnatalPerinatal periodRisk factorsPregnancy outcomesClinical guidanceAssessmentTreatment options

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Type
Chapter
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Seminars in Perinatal Psychiatry , pp. 281 - 305
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2026

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