A longitudinal study led byBárbara César-Machado, lecturer at the Faculty of Education and Psychology at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (FEP–UCP) and researcher at the Research Centre for Human Development (CEDH), draws attention to the need for specialised, multidisciplinary support for women with eating disorders during pregnancy and after childbirth. The study, published in Pediatric Reports, is the first in Portugal to systematically monitor the progression of these disorders throughout the reproductive cycle.

Strengthening Specialised Support

Based on the findings presented in the study, the authors emphasise the importance of monitoring symptoms of eating disorders (ED) during pregnancy; providing psychoeducation to pregnant women with ED about symptomatology; promoting multidisciplinary collaboration between obstetrics, paediatrics, nutrition and mental health services; offering psychological and medical treatment tailored to individual needs; and ensuring coordinated follow-up during the postpartum period. These recommendations are in line with recent clinical guidelines for the perinatal period.

“In line with previous evidence, it is essential to guarantee continuity of care during the first years of motherhood,” says Bárbara César-Machado.

The research, entitled Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Eating Disorders: A Four-Year Longitudinal Study with Case Series, was developed as part of the Master’s dissertation in Psychology by FEP-UCP student Filipa Soares (co-author of the study) and involved collaboration with Sónia Gonçalves (University of Minho), Sofia Duarte, Isabel Brandão and António Roma-Torres from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto and Hospital de São João.