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Dieting for two: Pregorexia
Learn more about this real condition that affects moms and their growing babies.
Tue, Oct 26 2010 at 8:00 AM
 12

Related Topics:

Healthy Eating
Prenatal health

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One of the coolest things about being pregnant is watching your body grow and change in ways you never thought possible. Sure, you're getting a little bigger around the midsection (and probably elsewhere) but for the first time in most women's lives, this weight gain is welcomed and even celebrated. Most women — but not all women. 
 
Some women are plagued by an obsession to avoid weight gain, especially during pregnancy. The condition, coined pregorexia by the media, affects women who excessively diet and exercise throughout their pregnancy to minimize weight gain.
 
Similar to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, pregorexia includes behaviors like bingeing and purging, severely restricting calories, excessively exercising, and abusing laxatives or diet pills.
 
Women (and men) who suffer from eating disorders are prone to other health consequences such as weakened bones, mineral loss, low body temperature, irregular heartbeat, osteoporosis and digestive disorders.  
 
But when an eating disorder strikes during pregnancy, it affects the baby, too. Pregorexia can cause problems in babies including neurological problems, smaller head size, lower IQ, lower birth weight, birth defects, and impaired function later in life.
 
Scary, huh?
 
Not surprisingly, women who have a history of eating disorders are more prone to developing pregorexia during pregnancy. Other factors that may lead to the condition include body image issues, relationship difficulties, and feelings of uncertainty toward motherhood.
 
The good news is that pregorexia is treatable. With counseling and the support of family and friends, women who are experiencing pregorexia resolve their weight issues, for their own health and that of the baby.

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

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Comments: 12
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anonymous
Yvonne Jan 08 2011 at 8:27 PM
I didn't have an eating disorder and I didn't actively try to lose weight during my pregnancy, but in my last trimester I was repeatedly reprimanded by my doctor for losing weight. The problem was that I tried to eat, but had very little appetite due to the highly stressful and dysfunctional circumstances I was living in. Abandoned by my son's father close to my due date, I had to move back to my parents house because I was already forced into maternity leave and had no income until my benefits kicked
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in. My parents called me "Miss Piggy" every time they caught me eating. At 5'6", my weight just before giving birth was 132 lbs and I went down to only 102 lbs within a month after my son was born, and they still called me a pig and accused me of constantly 'stuffing my face'. It's a blessing that my son was still a healthy baby of 8lbs and 14 ounces ... luckily my body knew to take care of my baby first. So while my parents called me a pig daily, my doctor accused me of being selfish and dieting for vanity, when that wasn't at all true. The guilt and shame and humiliation I felt every time I ate made it literally hard to swallow. I moved out of my parents home when my son was 3 months old (after payments for my maternity leave benefits finally arrived) and gradually returned to a healthy bodyweight while continuing to breastfeed my son. Don't judge these women too harshly ... there is a reason for their behaviour and it's probably not simple vanity.
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anonymous
cgrace Oct 27 2010 at 10:23 AM
Eating more during pregnancy isn't about "eating for two", it's about you're body doing some really exhaustive work, you know, building another human. It's takes a lot of energy out of you. Anyone who's been pregnant knows what this feels like. It's not about your hunger doubling because of a second stomach to fill, it's like doing extra workouts everyday and your calorie count NEEDS to be raised to give you the extra energy. That's why it's called a craving, you're body is craving the extra calories,
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energy, and nutrients, that's needed to keep your body healthy and the baby growing. Granted, some take advantage of the "eating for two rule", but all I'm saying is if you haven't been pregnant, then shut up.
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anonymous
Jeff Oct 27 2010 at 10:05 AM
It's been 20 years now, but my wife had that sort of pregnancy that other women really don't want to hear about. She was never sick, no stretch marks, didn't really show until the third trimester, and she gained 15 pounds. Our daughter was 8 pounds. The OB was quite concerned, even sending her out of the room once on a pretext so he could ask me if she was dieting. He then ordered another ultrasound and decided to let it go when the test showed a good sized baby. 3 years later we had the same
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thing, the same doctor asking me the same question. I suggested he review the file for our first child, and he did. This time she gained 17 pounds and had an 8 pound baby. Both times, she left the hospital weighing less than before she got pregnant.
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anonymous
Jori Oct 27 2010 at 3:02 PM
I'm currently going through a similar pregnancy of not having had the sickness, stretch marks, cravings, etc. At 7 months, people are now just starting to comment/ask if I'm pregnant. Whilst I haven't had concern from my doctor (I've gained 18 lbs so far -- so a bit bigger than your wife), I do have people commenting on how "unpregnant" I look or "are you really pregnant b/c you just look like you've overeaten" to "you really should eat more." Unless there's actual reason for concern, I think people
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need to learn to accept that each person's body reacts to pregnancy differently and not to judge just because certain people don't fit the a certain mould.
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anonymous
Tuppiv Oct 27 2010 at 9:36 AM

If doctors didn't give women grief about their weight gain, we wouldn't have to coin terms such as "pregorexia." I can't even count the number of times I have heard of a doctor telling a women to stop gaining weight during her pregnancy. Go into any message board about pregnancy and you will see the same thing.

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anonymous
Fizzle Oct 27 2010 at 10:05 AM

If women didn't rationalize their gluttonous pregnancy-gorging on the need to "eat for two," doctors wouldn't have to get after women about their pregnancy weight gain. My sister-in-law is an Ob/Gyn. Pregnant women do not need to "eat for two," it's more like "eating for one and a third." And I, for one, will not eat like a frigging COW when I get pregnant.

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anonymous
Rebecca Dec 30 2010 at 12:37 PM
Chill out lady I have had it all, but the stretch marks. I went from 120 lbs to 160lbs in my first pregnancy and had a healthy baby boy at just over 8lbs. I was sick every day doubling my food bill to eat and be healthy for my baby. I didn't think I would be sick around the clock for SIX MONTHS no one does. Pregnancy #2 I ate all day long and that seemed to help some. he was 10lbs, and I gained only 20 lbs with him and lost them when I had him (that did make me kind of happy). I did tell my
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doctors he was going to be over 10 lbs but they wouldn't listen. I have to mention the cravings you can try an apple when you want chocolate but it won't stop that urgh to eat chocolate no matter how full you are. and the heart burn Damn you can't lay down sit up or sleep and sometimes nothing helps. What I'm trying to tell you is that you don't know how your body and biology will react when you become pregnant so close your mouth. Good Luck Hon think your going to need when you time comes.
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anonymous
Tonya Oct 27 2010 at 2:03 PM
You sound like a teenager... "When I grow up I'll NEVER...[insert complaint about adults here]" haha Then of course you grow up and realize that you end up doing a lot of things you said you would never do. Just wait until you do get pregnant and realize how near impossible it is to control ANYTHING about your body. Starts with uncontrollable puking and peeing, then onto uncontrollable eating and sex drive, then you go back to uncontrollable peeing along with eating and of course some serious
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mood swings that will make you wonder why anyone even likes you anymore. (or wonder IF anyone likes you anymore) Then of course there is all the pain involved.. not just with labor. (that's actually the best part.. it means the end is near!) No, the pain starts as soon as your tummy begins to expand because the muscles are being pulled in ways they never have before. Ligaments are being stretched (those REALLY hurt) and nerves get pinched in your back. Your gums start swelling too. Even women with good teeth will get toothaches. Oh and think it's all sweet and fun when baby kicks? At first it's really neat but by about 30-32 weeks that baby is strong enough to do some damage. Bruised ribs are common, broken ribs sometimes. Nothing you can do to treat it though.. you're pregnant.. can't take pain meds except for useless tylenol. Say goodbye to sleep in the last trimester. You'll be too uncomfortable and may feel too breathless laying down. I swear if nature didn't make babies so damn cute, the human race would die out because women would go on strike. Pregnant women DESERVE to eat what they want and not be told that the ONE thing they still enjoy needs to be cut back. Sometimes it's the only comfort left. Plus, I am sure that when your body craves something as INSANELY as it does during pregnancy, your best bet is to feed it what it's begging for because your body is telling you what it needs. (you know.. as long as it isn't dirt or chalk or something weird... then you need to go to the doctor.. or down some mylanta... it tastes pretty chalky.)
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anonymous
HAHAH Oct 27 2010 at 12:15 PM

If you haven't been pregnant yet, you don't know what your appetite will be like. My first pregnancy I was constantly famished for the first month before it went back to normal. When I say famished, I mean, I gorged myself and ten minutes later it would feel like I hadn't eaten in days. It was really strange actually.

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anonymous
Vanessa Oct 27 2010 at 11:55 AM
Wow. You're ignorant AND mean. Being that you're not an OBGYN (your sister doesn't qualify as you) or a mother, I don't think your opinion holds much water. Comment back when you've walked in these shoes. As someone who has followed my OBGYN's VERY STRICT guidelines and has kept gaining weight I find your comment ignorant. I get grief at every appointment. So much so I've considered a WATERMELON diet to shut them up. My husband and I eat healthy, and portion our food using a nutrition scale! I don't
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eat for two, and most women nowadays are aware that "eating for two" is a common misconception, and outdated term. Don't make asinine comments on something when you have NO idea what you're talking about!
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anonymous
Julia Nov 25 2010 at 9:47 AM

Anyone who weighs out their food on a scale has SERIOUS PROBLEMS. LIGHTEN UP and live a little. Your neurosis about eating healthy will not make you live longer or feel better. I think you telling someone else that they are ignorant is HILARIOUS. You are ignorant to the enjoyment of life and flexibility....actually I feel very sorry for you.

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anonymous
Alliance for Ea... Oct 26 2010 at 9:13 AM

For additional information about eating disorders, please log on to www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com. Help is available and recovery is possible!

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