Excessive Food Consumption During Pregnancy – An Invisible Threat to Expectant Mothers

Eating disorders constitute a complex spectrum of psychiatric conditions defined by pathological attitudes toward food consumption, body weight regulation, and self-perception of physical appearance. Individuals affected by these disorders develop severely maladaptive eating patterns that precipitate profound health complications, disrupt interpersonal relationships, and impair basic daily functioning. The most prevalent diagnostic categories within this spectrum include anorexia nervosa (characterized by an obsessive pursuit of emaciation), bulimia nervosa (marked by cyclical binge-eating episodes followed by compensatory behaviors), and binge-eating disorder (recurrent episodes of uncontrollable overeating accompanied by distress). Anorexia nervosa manifests through an relentless drive to achieve an unrealistically thin physique, distorted body image perception, and severe caloric restriction leading to dangerous weight loss. Bulimia nervosa, by contrast, involves recurrent episodes of consuming excessive quantities of food in short periods, subsequently followed by purging behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, or excessive exercise. Binge-eating disorder is distinguished by frequent episodes of compulsive overeating without regular compensatory measures, often resulting in significant psychological distress. Of particular clinical concern is pregorexia—a pregnancy-specific disorder also referred to as "pregnancy anorexia"—which emerges from difficulties in adapting to rapid physiological changes during gestation. Women experiencing pregorexia engage in extreme weight-control behaviors, including restrictive dieting, excessive physical activity, or other compensatory mechanisms, disregarding potential harm to both maternal and fetal health. While the exact prevalence remains uncertain due to underreporting, estimates suggest up to 5% of pregnant women may be affected. Critically, this disorder frequently persists postpartum as women attempt to rapidly regain pre-pregnancy body composition (Treasure, Duarte, & Schmidt, 2020).