Satisfaction with women’s body image after childbirth and its relation to eating disorders: A cross-sectional study in Silesia Province, Poland
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Zakład Epidemiologii, Wydział Zdrowia Publicznego w Bytomiu, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach, 41-902 Bytom, Polska
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Katedra Zdrowia Publicznego, Katedra Polityki Zdrowia Publicznego, Wydział Zdrowia Publicznego w Bytomiu, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach, 40-055 Katowice, Polska
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Katedra i Oddział Kliniczny Laryngologii, Wydział Nauk Medycznych w Katowicach, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach, 40-055 Katowice, Polska
Submission date: 2023-09-28
Final revision date: 2023-12-13
Acceptance date: 2024-05-28
Online publication date: 2025-02-28
Publication date: 2025-02-28
Corresponding author
Karolina Helena Krupa-Kotara
Zakład Epidemiologii, Wydział Zdrowia Publicznego w Bytomiu, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach, 41-902 Bytom, Polska
Psychiatr Pol 2025;59(1):89-103
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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.