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Teenage Pregnancy and the Influence on Eating Disorder Development
Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope
Adverse Affects of Teen Pregnancies
Teenage pregnancy, or pregnancy in females under the age of 20, can run serious health risks to both mother and baby. While not all teenage pregnancies are unplanned, the course of pregnancy can be much for difficult for an adolescent or teenager to deal with than an adult woman, and pregnancy during teenage years can create many adverse effects, physically, emotionally, and psychologically.
For the teenager who may be susceptible to developing an eating disorder or perhaps already dealing with one of these mental illnesses, an unplanned pregnancy can influence the progression of these psychiatric disorders.
It is often mistakenly thought that a teenager with an eating disorder or low body weight may not be able to become pregnant, but even teenagers with eating disorders can have the potential to conceive a baby with unprotected sex. Unplanned pregnancies in teenagers with eating disorders can cause additional strain on their bodies, which may already be in a fragile state due to the effects of the disease.
Teen Pregnancies Influencing Eating Disorders
Other teenagers who may become pregnant may find it a struggle to adjust to their changing body, and the physical effects of pregnancy alone can be overwhelming to deal with at a younger age. While pregnancy alone is not a sole determining factor of eating disorder development, it can certainly complicate things for a teenager who already has other risk factors for an eating disorder.
If you or someone you care about has become pregnant as a teenager, it is crucial to seek out professional support during this extremely delicate and vulnerable time. Teenagers will not only need regular prenatal care during pregnancy but likely additional support for their psychological and mental health.
This may involve regularly meeting with a therapist or counselor experienced in this field who can help a teenager process the many emotions they may be experiencing during this time. If an eating disorder is present in a teenager who is pregnant, eating disorder treatment will be necessary to closely monitor the health of both the mother and her developing baby.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
What do you think are some of the unique challenges that a teenager might face during pregnancy, and what are some helpful resources to support teens during this vulnerable time?
Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.
As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on January 24, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
