What is Pregorexia? Anorexia and Pregnancy Explained

Pregorexia is a term used to describe women who are struggling with body image during pregnancy. It’s a mashup of two words: pregnancy and anorexia, and is not at all a medical term. Unfortunately, this term has become popular over the last 10-15 years, and it may create a stigma among women that it’s normal to have anorexia while pregnant.

While it’s completely normal to have body image concerns during pregnancy, it is certainly not normal or good to starve yourself during pregnancy. A pregnant woman’s diet is the main source of nutrition for a developing baby, and depriving yourself of vital nutrients during pregnancy can have severe consequences for both mom and baby.

Pregnant women who suffer from anorexia can put themselves at an increased risk for a number of health complications, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, difficulty nursing, and depression both during pregnancy and postpartum. For your unborn baby, anorexia can cause slower development, low birth weight, respiratory problems, and preterm labor.