Anorexia nervosa in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa is a complex illness rarely encountered in pregnant women. It is a disorder characterized by markedly decreased food intake accompanied by a distorted body image, resulting in an inability to maintain the body weight within 85% of ideal body weight. We describe a case of a pregnant woman diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at 28 weeks of gestation. Her body mass index was 17 kg/m². A live male infant weighing 2,08 kg was delivered prematurely via vaginal delivery at 35 weeks of gestation. Pregnant women with anorexia nervosa may have a higher risk of hypertension, miscarriage, difficult labour, premature delivery and intrauterine growth restriction. Management of pregnancy complicated with anorexia nervosa requires involvement of a multidisciplinary team and hospitalization in severe cases.