[Maternal eating disorders and their influence on eating behavior of the children: a review of the literature]

Abstract

Background: There is conclusive evidence about the influence of mothers with eating disorders (ED) on their children.

Objective: To describe different aspects about mothers with ED and its implications in the feeding, growing and development in their children.

Method: A review of specialized textbooks and the available literature in PubMed was made.

Results: Mothers with previous or present ED show restrictive eating patterns, a deficient affective bond with their own mothers, exhibit more psychiatric comorbidities, mainly depression and anxiety; in addition, feelings of guilt and shame, early cessation of breastfeeding, high control of food consumption of their children, and/or pressure them to eat, irregular mealtimes, unbalanced and monotonous meals, proneness to slimness, a critical attitude about the body shape of their daughters. Breastfeeding implies a critical period for the irruption or relapse of an ED due to the adjustment to the characteristic body shape changes during pregnancy.

Conclusions: There is a particular relationship between a maternal ED and its occurrence in their children, and it can be considered a risk factor for its development.