Changes in Disordered Eating Across Pregnancy: A Rapid Scoping Review

Abstract

Objectives

Disordered eating (DE) can be particularly concerning during pregnancy, as it is associated with various obstetric complications. Findings on DE variations during pregnancy have yet to be systematically synthesized. This review seeks to summarize research on DE change across pregnancy.

Methods

Four databases were searched using PRISMA Scoping Review and Cochrane Rapid Reviews guidelines. Eligible studies were longitudinal and assessed DE, including eating disorder (ED) symptoms (e.g., dieting, purging) and related forms of DE (e.g., emotional eating), more than once during pregnancy.

Results

The review included 19 articles. Though many forms of DE decreased across pregnancy, some forms of DE did not change, while some forms of DE had conflicting or unclear patterns. Body image constructs were the most examined forms of DE in pregnancy, followed by weight and dieting constructs. Research comparing DE patterns in people with versus without EDs was scarce.

Conclusions

Few studies have examined DE across pregnancy using ED samples, and several DE symptoms had conflicting or unclear patterns across pregnancy. Moreover, some DE outcomes (e.g., quality of life related to EDs, guilt related to overeating, susceptibility to hunger) and the comparison of DE patterns in samples with versus without EDs remain underexplored in pregnancy.

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Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@misc{pung2026changes,
  title = {{Changes in Disordered Eating Across Pregnancy: A Rapid Scoping Review}},
  author = {Elizabeth Pung and Samah Ellithi and Nurya Toche Mbah and Laurie Charest and Sarah Elizabeth Racine and Anna MacKinnon},
  howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.31234/osf.io/w358t_v1},
  url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/w358t_v1/},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - UNPB
TI  - Changes in Disordered Eating Across Pregnancy: A Rapid Scoping Review
AU  - Elizabeth Pung
AU  - Samah Ellithi
AU  - Nurya Toche Mbah
AU  - Laurie Charest
AU  - Sarah Elizabeth Racine
AU  - Anna MacKinnon
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/27
PB  - PsyArXiv
DO  - 10.31234/osf.io/w358t_v1
UR  - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/w358t_v1/
AB  - Objectives  Disordered eating (DE) can be particularly concerning during pregnancy, as it is associated with various obstetric complications. Findings on DE variations during pregnancy have yet to be systematically synthesized. This review seeks to summarize research on DE change across pregnancy.  Methods  Four databases were searched using PRISMA Scoping Review and Cochrane Rapid Reviews guidelines. Eligible studies were longitudinal and assessed DE, including eating disorder (ED) symptoms (e.g., dieting, purging) and related forms of DE (e.g., emotional eating), more than once during pregnancy.  Results  The review included 19 articles. Though many forms of DE decreased across pregnancy, some forms of DE did not change, while some forms of DE had conflicting or unclear patterns. Body image constructs were the most examined forms of DE in pregnancy, followed by weight and dieting constructs. Research comparing DE patterns in people with versus without EDs was scarce.  Conclusions  Few studies have examined DE across pregnancy using ED samples, and several DE symptoms had conflicting or unclear patterns across pregnancy. Moreover, some DE outcomes (e.g., quality of life related to EDs, guilt related to overeating, susceptibility to hunger) and the comparison of DE patterns in samples with versus without EDs remain underexplored in pregnancy.
ER  -

Abstract

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