Postpartum Eating Disorders V1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A qualitative investigation of the factors influencing the experience and management of eating disorder symptomology during the postpartum period.

  • IRAS ID

    316941

  • Contact name

    Chantelle Ecob

  • Contact email

    chantelle.ecob@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Manchester

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 6 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    An eating disorder (ED) is a mental health problem where someone has major problems with food, eating and body weight or shape. There are different types of EDs which each involve different symptoms. ED-symptoms may include eating too little, eating too much or purging. EDs can be complex and life-threatening because they negatively affect people’s physical and mental health. It is estimated that that 8% of women and 2% of men have an eating disorder at some point in their life.

    Some women’s EDs can improve during pregnancy. One reason for this is because they are aware they need to provide nutrition for their growing baby. This can sometimes continue after giving birth and into the future. However, women often struggle with their ED more after giving birth. The reasons for this are unclear. It is important to understand the reasons that previous ED symptoms can return at this time. This will help health care workers, family and friends learn how to support women in this vulnerable time.

    We plan to interview 20 women who have given birth with a current or past ED. We will seek participants from NHS ED services and on social media. Interviews will be online or face-to-face and will last around one hour. Interviews will involve questions about different factors, such as support available at the time and mother-baby bonding. We will also ask more general questions about what was helpful and what made their experience more difficult, for women to discuss what was important to them at the time. The research will be funded by the University of Manchester.

  • REC name

    South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    23/SC/0017

  • Date of REC Opinion

    20 Feb 2023

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion