Eating disorders and motherhood: Navigating challenges together

New survey: 45% of women face infertility after an eating disorder

Canva/Motherly

For many women, pregnancy is both joyful and vulnerable. While often framed as a glowing experience, the reality is more nuanced.

By Amanda Jennings Updated Feb. 26, 2025

Table of Contents

It’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, a time to shine a light on an issue that impacts millions but is often misunderstood—especially when it comes to motherhood. Pregnancy and postpartum are already emotionally and physically intense, but for mothers with a history of disordered eating, these life transitions can bring up challenges that many don’t anticipate.

A recent survey by Equip Health of 645 American women over the age of 18 with a history of eating disorders or disordered eating habits sheds light on just how profound this intersection can be. The survey explored fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum, revealing eye-opening statistics about the ways in which past or ongoing struggles with food and body image affect the journey to motherhood.

But beyond the numbers, these challenges extend into pregnancy and postpartum, affecting body image and mental health in profound ways.

Understanding the impact of eating disorders on motherhood

For many women, pregnancy is both joyful and vulnerable. While often framed as a glowing experience, the reality is more nuanced. Your body changes in ways you can’t control. Doctors monitor your weight at every visit. Society bombards you with messages about how you “should” be eating for your baby. Then postpartum brings another set of expectations—bouncing back, shedding the baby weight, and “getting your body back.”

For moms with a history of disordered eating, these pressures can be triggering. Equip Health’s survey found that:

45% of women with a history of an eating disorder or disordered eating experience infertility, compared to the national average of 11%. Eating disorders can significantly influence fertility, but they are just one piece of the puzzle. Factors such as nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and disruptions to menstruation and ovulation may play a role, but infertility is complex and can be influenced by a variety of medical and lifestyle factors.
More than one in ten (13%) delayed trying to conceive because of concerns related to their eating disorder.
Only 18% of healthcare providers discussed the potential links between fertility challenges and a history of disordered eating, highlighting a critical gap in medical care.

Pregnancy and body image: The overlooked struggles

Pregnancy introduces numerous physical and emotional changes, which can be particularly difficult for those with eating disorders. Equip Health’s survey found that:

32% of respondents were concerned about how pregnancy might impact their eating disorder or disordered eating behaviors.
64% of respondents worried about how weight changes during pregnancy would impact their body image.
53% of respondents were concerned that unwanted body comments and people touching their bodies during pregnancy would negatively impact their mental health.

Regular weigh-ins, changing body shape, and food-related advice can exacerbate distress, making a strong support network, including therapists or dietitians specializing in perinatal mental health, essential.

How fertility and pregnancy can be more supportive for women with eating disorders

The path to motherhood should not be one that forces women to relive harmful patterns in silence. Here’s how we can do better:

Improve provider education. Many doctors receive little training on eating disorders, making it harder for women to receive adequate care. A holistic approach—including mental health support alongside fertility treatment—could make a world of difference.
Rethink how we talk about body changes. Pregnancy isn’t just about weight gain; it’s about creating life. Shifting the focus to well-being can help moms feel less pressure and more empowered.
Strengthen support systems. Whether it’s a trusted friend, therapist, or online community, talking about fears around food and body image can provide crucial emotional relief.
Request blind weigh-ins at prenatal visits if seeing the number on the scale is triggering.
Unfollow social media accounts that prompt unhealthy comparisons to create a healthier digital environment.
Practice regular eating patterns, even during the first trimester, when nausea or food aversions make it especially challenging.
Incorporate joyful movement into your routine—moving for well-being rather than weight control.
Seek a trauma-informed, weight-inclusive provider and be upfront about your history and any potential triggers.
Prioritize self-compassion as your body changes throughout pregnancy and postpartum.

Postpartum pressures and body image

If pregnancy is challenging, postpartum can be even harder. 88% of women in Equip Health’s survey felt societal pressure to return to their pre-pregnancy body quickly. But why is this the standard? Our culture needs to recognize that postpartum recovery is not a race.

For moms navigating postpartum body changes, here’s what can help:

Unfollow toxic social media accounts. If you’re constantly seeing “before and after” weight-loss transformations, consider curating your feed to focus on body neutrality, gentle fitness, and self-care.
Set boundaries with well-meaning but harmful comments. If family or friends make unsolicited remarks about your body, have a go-to response like, “I’m focused on what my body can do right now, not what it looks like.”
Challenge the idea that self-worth is tied to size. Your body just grew and birthed a human. It is strong, capable, and worthy—regardless of how it looks.

How society can better support mothers

Instead of placing the burden solely on moms to navigate these pressures, we should be asking: How can we as a society do better?

Change the narrative around postpartum recovery. Let’s stop equating weight loss with health and instead promote realistic, supportive messaging about healing after childbirth.
Train healthcare providers to recognize disordered eating in pregnancy. A simple screening question about a history of disordered eating at OB-GYN appointments could open the door to better, more compassionate care.
Support paid parental leave. When new mothers aren’t forced to return to work immediately, they have more time to prioritize recovery—both physically and emotionally.

Creating a healthier conversation about body image

Motherhood is a time of transformation, and every mom deserves to feel supported—not scrutinized. This National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, let’s work toward a world where women don’t have to navigate these challenges alone. By changing the way we talk about food, bodies, and health, we can create a culture that uplifts rather than pressures mothers.

If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating during pregnancy or postpartum, consider reaching out to a specialized healthcare provider or support group. You are not alone, and help is available.

By fostering understanding and compassion, we can make motherhood a more inclusive, healing, and empowering experience for every woman.