Abstract

BEHAR A, Rosa; GONZALEZ A, Javier; ARIZA P, Mario  and  AGUIRRE S, Andrea. TRASTORNOS DE LA CONDUCTA ALIMENTARIA EN MUJERES EMBARAZADAS CONTROLADAS EN ATENCIÓN PRIMARIA. Rev. chil. obstet. ginecol. [online]. 2008, vol.73, n.3, pp.155-162. ISSN 0048-766X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-75262008000300004.

Background: According to the impact of eating disorders on pregnant women, most evidence shows nega-tive pre and post natal consequences for the mother and the fetus. Objective: To determine the presence of abnormal eating behaviors in pregnant women controlled in primary care, and to describe and compare eating disordered patients in relation to the pregnancy, maternal, psychological and behavioral characteris-tics. Method: The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) and a questionnaire about demographic and pregnancy data and previous history of eating disorders were administered to 141 pregnant women. Results: 23.4% of the polled women scored within the pathological range of EAT-40, in whom the prior history of eating disorders emerged as the most important factor of risk to develop an eating disorder in these patients. Furthermore, considerable differences were seen in the average of EAT-40 scores and in the EDI and its all subscales. Conclusión: The percentage of pregnant women who displayed abnormal eating behaviors exceeds the rate described in literature for clinical eating disorders. Besides, it reflect tendency to be a chronic disease even in pregnancy. Additional studies are required to help health personnel to prevent, detect and treat women with eating disorders in pregnancy.

Keywords : Eating disorders; pregnancy; boulimia; anorexia nervosa; prenatal care.

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