A new survey from Equip, a virtual eating disorder treatment platform, revealed that one in 10 women are delaying pregnancy because of their disordered eating. It is believed that around 30 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime. Also, women are twice as likely to develop an eating disorder as men eating disorders,

Now, a third of women with an eating disorder have said they fear what a pregnancy might do to them. Many spoke of fearing inappropriate comments about their bodies. The findings show that 61% of women surveyed who are currently suffering from an eating disorder say it was difficult to manage their bodies during pregnancy.

Dori Steinberg, vice president of research at Equip, speaking to the media said, “This topic remains largely unaddressed, as women face an internal conflict when choosing between embracing motherhood and following the influence of diet culture. The overlap between diet culture and the idealization of ideal motherhood further complicates this tension.”

35% of respondents said they were advised to lose weight while trying to conceive, with the majority saying this advice was motivating for them.

The survey also highlights how eating disorders can affect women’s fertility. Nearly 50% of women surveyed have faced infertility due to suffering from an eating disorder, while the national average is 11%.

What Causes Eating Disorders?

Experts believe that all eating disorders are complex conditions and hence, while the exact cause behind them is unknown, various studies suggest that a combination of certain genetic factors, psychological traits and environmental factors, especially socio-cultural factors, may be responsible.

Many experts also believe that eating disorders occur most often in people who try to cope with overwhelming feelings and painful emotions by restricting their food intake. For example, physical abuse or sexual assault may contribute to developing an eating disorder in some people.

emotional Health Issues such as perfectionism, impulsive behavior, and difficult relationships also play a significant role, playing a major role in lowering your self-esteem and perceived self-worth.

Ways to prevent or reduce the risk of an eating disorder

According to experts, if eating disorders run in your family, it is important to be alert to the warning signs to identify the problem in time.

• Doctors say quick and effective treatment techniques can stop unhealthy eating habits before they become hard to control.
• Additionally, you can reduce your risk of developing an eating disorder by getting treatment for problems such as depression, anxiety, and OCD.
• Eat healthy, seasonal, and fresh foods, and avoid talking about food as “good or bad.”
• Don’t diet, talk about dieting, or make negative comments about your body.

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