Satisfaction with women's body image after childbirth and its relation to eating disorders: A cross-sectional study in Silesia Province, Poland.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the potential increased risk of eating disorders among women during the first year after childbirth.

Methods: In this study involving 288 women between the ages of 21 and 45, the SCOFF questionnaire was used. This tool was used to evaluate and analyse the collected responses, using a predetermined dataset. After data collection, in-depth statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 13.3 software. Analytical techniques included the χ2 test, Kruskal-Wallis rank ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U test.

Results: The results were considered statistically significant at a threshold of p ≤ 0.05. The results underscore that most women have concerns about their postpartum weight. The infant feeding method showed a clear correlation with satisfaction with current body weight. Women who chose to breastfeed were more likely to report satisfaction with their body weight. Interestingly, about 50% of female respondents showed a predisposition to developing an eating disorder.

Conclusions: This propensity appears to depend on variables such as the chosen method of feeding the baby, weight satisfaction and body mass index (BMI). To ensure the well-being of both mothers and infants, a comprehensive study of eating disorders in the perinatal phase is necessary. There is therefore an urgent need for educational initiatives that include mental well-being and nutritional knowledge, targeting pregnant and postpartum women.