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Weight and Eating Concerns in Women’s Reproductive Health

  • Reproductive Psychiatry and Women’s Health (CN Epperson, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Women’s weight status affects their reproductive functioning, and, likewise, women’s lifetime weight trajectories are influenced by reproductive events. We examine the relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pregnancy, the postpartum period, and gynecological cancers with weight, body image, and other psychiatric issues.

Recent Findings

Women with overweight or obesity are at higher risk for PCOS, and the mood and anxiety symptoms often comorbid with PCOS are linked to weight as well as the core symptoms of the disorder. Excessive gestational weight gain can influence one’s body image and mood, and it predicts lasting effects on postpartum weight retention. Finally, overweight and obesity are related to several gynecological cancers. These diseases also impact mood, anxiety, and poor body image.

Summary

Weight management interventions may be of some benefit in improving the disease states and pregnancy outcomes discussed here, but feasibility, logistics, and costs are issues that remain in delivering such interventions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Courtney McCuen-Wurst & Kelly C. Allison

  2. Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Elizabeth Culnan

  3. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Nicole L. Stewart

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  1. Courtney McCuen-Wurst
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  2. Elizabeth Culnan
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  3. Nicole L. Stewart
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  4. Kelly C. Allison
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Correspondence to Kelly C. Allison.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Reproductive Psychiatry and Women’s Health

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McCuen-Wurst, C., Culnan, E., Stewart, N.L. et al. Weight and Eating Concerns in Women’s Reproductive Health. Curr Psychiatry Rep 19, 68 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0828-0

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