# Maternal and neonatal outcomes among pregnant women with eating disorders. > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/eating-disorders-pregnancy-complications-study-outcomes/ > **Published:** 2026-04-27T18:28:05-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T14:00:51-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** New research on eating disorders pregnancy complications shows increased risks for mothers and babies. Learn about prevalence trends and clinical implications. --- CED Clinical Relevance  #65Notable Clinical Interest Evidence Brief | CED ClinicPregnant women with [eating disorders](https://cedclinic.com/clinical-trial-fda-approved-cbd-increases-bmi-anorexia/) face significantly higher risks of preterm delivery, low birth weight infants, and maternal complications in large US cohort study. Pregnancy[Eating Disorders](https://cedclinic.com/clinical-trial-fda-approved-cbd-increases-bmi-anorexia/)[Maternal Health](https://cedclinic.com/recreational-cannabis-birth-outcomes-study-colorado/)Neonatal OutcomesCohort Study Pregnant women with eating disorders face significantly higher risks of preterm delivery, low birth weight infants, and maternal complications in large US cohort study. What This Study Teaches Us This population-level study demonstrates that eating disorders during pregnancy are becoming more prevalent and are associated with measurable increases in adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The large sample size provides robust evidence that eating disorders represent a significant perinatal risk factor that warrants clinical attention. Why This Matters With eating disorder prevalence rising among pregnant women, clinicians need evidence-based awareness of associated risks to guide screening, monitoring, and counseling practices. This data supports the clinical importance of identifying and managing eating disorders as part of comprehensive prenatal care. Study Snapshot Study Type Retrospective Cohort Study Population 4,337,612 delivery admissions in the US, with 1,262 involving eating disorder diagnosis, 2016-2021 Intervention Presence of maternal eating disorder (ICD-10 F50.x codes) Comparator Pregnancies without eating disorder diagnosis Primary Outcome Maternal and neonatal perinatal outcomes Key Finding Eating disorder prevalence increased from 23.9 to 37.6 per 100,000 deliveries, with increased adverse outcomes Journal Journal of Perinatal Medicine Year 2024 Clinical Bottom Line Pregnant women with eating disorders require enhanced monitoring and multidisciplinary care given their elevated risk profile for both maternal and fetal complications. The increasing prevalence suggests this will become a more common clinical scenario requiring systematic approaches to identification and management. What This Paper Does Not Show The abstract does not specify which types of eating disorders carry the highest risk, the mechanisms underlying these associations, or whether treatment of eating disorders during pregnancy can mitigate these risks. The study cannot establish causation or determine optimal intervention strategies. Where This Paper Deserves Skepticism ICD-10 coding may underestimate eating disorder prevalence due to underdiagnosis or coding practices, potentially selecting for more severe cases. The study design cannot account for eating disorder severity, duration, or active treatment status, which likely influence outcomes significantly. Dr. Caplan's Take I see eating disorders regularly in my practice, and this data validates what we observe clinically – these patients need extra attention throughout pregnancy. The rising prevalence is concerning and suggests we may be missing cases during routine prenatal screening. This reinforces my approach of asking about eating behaviors and body image concerns as part of comprehensive prenatal assessment. What a Careful Reader Should Take Away Eating disorders represent an underrecognized but significant perinatal risk factor with measurable impacts on maternal and fetal outcomes. [Healthcare systems](https://cedclinic.com/australian-medical-cannabis-program-challenges/) should consider systematic screening approaches and ensure multidisciplinary resources are available for affected pregnancies. Join the Conversation Have a question about how this applies to your situation? [Ask Dr. Caplan →](https://benjamincaplan.com/ask-dr-caplan) Want to discuss this topic with other patients and caregivers? [Join the forum discussion →](https://cedclinic.com/interact/discussion-forums/forum/cannabis-industry/) Have thoughts on this? Share it: [X Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Just%20read%20this%20on%20CEDclinic.com%3A%20Maternal%20and%20neonatal%20outcomes%20among%20pregnant%20women%20with%20eating%20disorders.%20%40drcaplan&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Feating-disorders-pregnancy-complications-study-outcomes%2F)[in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Feating-disorders-pregnancy-complications-study-outcomes%2F)[🦅 Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Just%20read%20this%3A%20Maternal%20and%20neonatal%20outcomes%20among%20pregnant%20women%20with%20eating%20disorders.%20via%20%40drcaplan.bsky.social%20https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Feating-disorders-pregnancy-complications-study-outcomes%2F)[📷 Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan)[📝 Read more on Substack](https://doctorapprovedcannabis.substack.com/)[🔔 Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/feed/) Table of Contents - [FAQ](#FAQ)[How common are eating disorders during pregnancy?](#How_common_are_eating_disorders_during_pregnancy) - [What are the main risks to the baby when the mother has an eating disorder?](#What_are_the_main_risks_to_the_baby_when_the_mother_has_an_eating_disorder) - [What maternal complications are associated with eating disorders during pregnancy?](#What_maternal_complications_are_associated_with_eating_disorders_during_pregnancy) - [Should pregnant women with a history of eating disorders receive special prenatal care?](#Should_pregnant_women_with_a_history_of_eating_disorders_receive_special_prenatal_care) - [How reliable is this research for clinical decision-making?](#How_reliable_is_this_research_for_clinical_decision-making) - [Related](#Related) ## FAQ #### How common are eating disorders during pregnancy? Based on this large US cohort study, eating disorders affect approximately 29 per 100,000 delivery admissions. The prevalence is increasing significantly, rising from 23.9 to 37.6 per 100,000 deliveries between 2016 and 2021. #### What are the main risks to the baby when the mother has an eating disorder? Infants born to mothers with eating disorders face significantly higher risks of preterm delivery and low birth weight. These complications can lead to long-term developmental issues and require specialized neonatal care. #### What maternal complications are associated with eating disorders during pregnancy? Pregnant women with eating disorders experience increased rates of various maternal complications during delivery and the postpartum period. The study identified multiple adverse maternal outcomes that require enhanced monitoring and clinical management. #### Should pregnant women with a history of eating disorders receive special prenatal care? Yes, given the significantly increased risks demonstrated in this study, pregnant women with eating disorders should receive specialized prenatal monitoring. Enhanced surveillance can help identify and manage complications early to improve both maternal and neonatal outcomes. #### How reliable is this research for clinical decision-making? This is a robust population-based cohort study analyzing over 4.3 million delivery admissions using standardized diagnostic codes. The large sample size and multivariable analysis adjusting for confounding factors provides strong evidence for [clinical practice](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-reproductive-health-women-clinical-evidence/) guidelines. [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).