Major study reveals link between maternal anorexia and infants with low birth weight

A meta-analysis of more than 2 million women led by researchers at the UCL Institute of Child Health has revealed that women with a known history of anorexia at any point prior or during pregnancy have babies with a lower birth weight than healthy mothers.

The study, published in Epidemiologic Reviews, is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and is the first large-scale review of its kind, taking into account 14 existing studies carried out between 1999 and 2012 across several Western countries, including the UK. These findings have important clinical implications in the future prevention of health complications in high risk cases.

The quantitative analysis showed a standardized average difference of 200g between the infants of affected and unaffected mothers.

Lead author Dr Nadia Micali, Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at the ICH, is a world expert in eating disorders and pregnancy. She has led on a number of studies looking at the incidence of eating disorders across different age groups and genders in the UK in recent years.  Dr Micali led a study earlier this year which reported that one in 14 pregnant women in the UK have an eating disorder.

Dr Micali says: “This is a landmark study for the field, as it brings together a comprehensive body of literature on the subject, allowing us to support our hypothesis that among women of reproductive age with anorexia, there is a heightened risk of an adverse outcome for their babies.”

Low birth weight is a relevant concern due to its association with neurological and physical impairments, which are often identified at a later stage in the child’s life. Depression, attention problems, schizophrenia and eating disorders themselves have all been linked to low birth weight, while diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cerebral palsy and visual and hearing impairments are among the physical conditions associated with low birth weight.

Dr Micali continues: “There is good evidence from our research that eating disorders in pregnancy can affect both the mother and the developing baby. Greater awareness of eating disorders and their symptoms amongst antenatal health care professionals would help to better identify and manage such disorders amongst pregnant women.”