Perinatal Eating Disorders: How the Perinatal Period Can Lead to Food and Body Image Concerns

Thrive • August 18, 2022
By Thrive Wellness National Director of Risk Management Kerstin Trachok, CPC

The perinatal period which accounts for pregnancy through one year postpartum, involves many changes to a person’s body and lifestyle. For some, these changes can be distressing and contribute to perinatal eating disorders, which can be detrimental to both the mother and baby. Integrating perinatal mental health care with eating disorder treatment can help expecting and new mothers adjust, accept, and appreciate their evolving bodies. 

HOW THE PERINATAL PERIOD CAN TRIGGER EATING DISORDERS

Throughout pregnancy, a person’s body undergoes substantial changes. An expecting mother gains necessary, healthy weight as a baby grows inside her. Her breasts and feet often become larger, and she may experience bloating and constipation . For someone who already has body image concerns, these changes can exacerbate existing negative body image struggles and prompt disordered eating thoughts or habits.

Some mothers without previous body image issues may also feel triggered by the changes during the perinatal period. However, for these individuals, the postpartum period tends to be the most challenging. After giving birth, many mothers are faced with a very different body than the one they had pre-pregnancy, an experience that can also lead to negative body image and disordered eating.

EATING DISORDERS DURING PREGNANCY

Diagnosing an eating disorder during pregnancy can be difficult. Pregnant mothers may struggle with all types of eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder (BED) . A person who exhibits symptoms of an eating disorder while they’re pregnant often won’t have a body mass index (BMI) that matches the diagnostic criteria for the eating disorder outlined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). For example, a person may be severely underweight during their pregnancy without technically qualifying for a true anorexia diagnosis. 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PERINATAL EATING DISORDERS

Some behaviors that are evident of perinatal eating disorders include:

  • Excessive exercise
  • Restricting food intake
  • Obsessive calorie counting
  • Self-induced vomiting 
  • Laxative use
  • Feeling shame or guilt about weight gain 
  • Frequently weighing oneself or measuring the size of one’s body
  • Fear or intense distress about gaining weight
  • Not attending doctor appointments to hide their condition from their physician 
  • Isolating oneself from family and friends due to feeling uncomfortable in one’s body

A perinatal eating disorder may also contribute to difficulty bonding with one’s baby, such as:  

  • Feeling disconnected from one’s baby during pregnancy
  • Blaming one’s baby for the changes in one’s body
  • Experiencing attachment issues with one’s baby postpartum
  • Feeling shame or guilt about one’s struggle to bond with their baby 

THE DANGERS OF PERINATAL EATING DISORDERS

Perinatal eating disorders can have harmful consequences for both the mother and baby, including:

  • Bone loss for the pregnant person
  • Growth restrictions for the baby 
  • Fetal developmental problems
  • Low birth weight due to lack of nutrients
  • Fatigue beyond what would be considered normal for a pregnancy
  • Electrolyte imbalances and abnormalities
  • Dehydration
  • Dizziness
  • Prolonged labor
  • Miscarriage 

A PREEMPTIVE APPROACH TO PERINATAL EATING DISORDERS

If a person planning to have a child has struggled with an eating disorder or negative body image, they could benefit from proactively seeking therapeutic support to protect themself and their baby from the dangers of eating disorders. 

An eating disorder therapist can help:

  • Address any food, body, or eating behavior concerns 
  • Develop a plan for if the eating disorder is retriggered during the perinatal period
  • Manage eating disorder thoughts and behaviors that might arise 
  • Educate and involve a person’s loved ones so they can help monitor the person and support them throughout the perinatal period
  • Help guide a person in facilitating conversations with their primary care providers about their eating disorder concerns
  • Connect a person with primary care providers that are knowledgeable about eating disorders

COLLABORATIVE PERINATAL AND EATING DISORDER TREATMENT AT THRIVE WELLNESS

Thrive Wellness’ perinatal mental health and eating disorder treatment programs offer comprehensive care to guide expecting and postpartum mothers in developing and nurturing healthy relationships with food and their bodies. A person struggling with a perinatal eating disorder can attend a hybrid of both programs while having access to a collaborative interdisciplinary treatment team with experience treating both perinatal mental health and eating disorders. Reach out to learn more about our various services. 

While all Thrive Wellness locations offer interdisciplinary clinical teams who collaborate to treat eating disorders, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), and additional mental and behavioral health conditions, programs and services may vary by location.

About the Author

Thrive Wellness National Director of Risk Management Kerstin Trachok, CPC

Kerstin received her master’s degrees in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling from the University of Nevada, Reno. She has several years of experience in the counseling field working in different settings and treating a wide array of mental health issues. Her experience includes working in schools with children of all ages, clients with psychosis in a hospital setting, and adults and teens in private practice as well as working at an agency providing counseling to children and families and two years of experience working with eating disorders at the partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP) levels of care.

Kerstin is a fully licensed clinical professional counselor in the state of Nevada and received her certification in Complex Trauma Levels I and II. She has experience working with children, teens, adults, and families with trauma, anxiety, grief, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and behavioral issues. Kerstin is passionate about fostering clients’ growth and autonomy while providing a safe and secure space to process emotions. She uses creative interventions and other tools to allow clients to voice their internal experiences beyond traditional talk therapy and her modality of choice is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). She uses mindfulness tools and techniques to help clients be present-moment oriented and reduce stress so they may move towards psychological flexibility. Kerstin believes all individuals have the right to live a full and vital life.

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December 2, 2025
Like the fir tree, a symbol of endurance rooted in hope, our Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR) approach reflects the strength that grows when families face challenges together. At our new residential center “The Greenhouse”, FIR is more than a treatment model, it’s a philosophy of healing that places families at the heart of recovery for adolescents and young adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We believe lasting healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s built with the support of families through perseverance, hope, and compassionate care. What Is Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR)? Family Intensive Recovery (FIR) is a specialized and immersive approach that actively engages caregivers as central agents in their child’s healing process. Rather than seeing families as contributors to a problem, we view them as essential partners in recovery. Drawing from two evidence-based frameworks, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT), FIR helps families cultivate resilience, confidence, and connection throughout the journey to recovery. Grounded in SPACE and FBT Through the SPACE model, parents learn how to recognize and reduce well-intentioned but unhelpful behaviors known as accommodations that can reinforce anxiety and OCD symptoms. By shifting from rescuing to supporting and challenging, parents develop the confidence to guide their child through discomfort, helping them build distress tolerance and self-trust. Simultaneously, Family-Based Treatment (FBT) empowers families to take an active, compassionate role in their child’s nutritional and emotional recovery. Parents learn how to support weight and nutritional restoration, disrupt the eating disorder’s patterns, and reestablish boundaries that promote health and growing autonomy. Together, these approaches strengthen both the individual and family system, allowing recovery to take root within an environment of empathy and optimism. From Blame to Collaboration A cornerstone of the FIR model is removing blame. At Thrive, parents are not viewed as the cause of their child’s struggles, but rather as key partners in recovery. Treatment focuses on joining forces to create a safe, supportive environment where: Families learn to sit with their child's discomfort alongside them without rushing to fix or control it. Parents practice compassionate firmness, setting boundaries grounded in care and safety. Teens and caregivers rebuild trust through open, honest communication. This collaborative framework helps families reestablish a sense of connection and confidence, fostering long-term resilience and open communication that extends beyond the treatment setting. Why Family Matters in Recovery Recovery from eating disorders, OCD, or anxiety isn’t a one-person job, it requires integrated care including the family. When families learn to navigate challenges together, they can model emotional regulation, reinforce healthy boundaries, and create conditions for sustained recovery. Through FIR, we aim to strengthen attachment bonds, reshape family interactions, and empower every member of the family to grow. The result is not only symptom reduction but also a deeper sense of unity, hope, and shared endurance, just like the steadfast fir tree that stands resilient through every season. Moving Toward Hope Family Inclusive Recovery invites caregivers and loved ones to become active participants in change. It’s a journey of learning, letting go, and leaning into love and acceptance. Together, families and clinicians can cultivate the courage in clients to face uncertainty, and in doing so, help them discover that recovery is not just possible, but enduring. If you’d like to learn more about Family Intensive Recovery at The Greenhouse or how we support families in eating disorder and OCD treatment, reach out to our team today.
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The Greenhouse at Thrive Wellness A New Chapter of Hope and Healing in Nevada On Friday, November 14 , we gathered with our partners at Molina Healthcare to share an important moment for our community. Together, we celebrated Molina’s generous $50,000 grant , an investment that is helping bring The Greenhouse to life. Their support is not only a financial contribution—it’s a statement of belief in the young people and families of Nevada who deserve access to compassionate, evidence-based mental healthcare close to home. This gathering marked the beginning of something we’ve dreamed about for years: a place designed specifically for adolescents and emerging adults to receive the care, connection, and support they need during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Something New Is Growing In early 2026 , Thrive Wellness will open The Greenhouse , Nevada’s first residential treatment center devoted to adolescents and emerging adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety, and OCD . For too long, families have faced a heartbreaking dilemma—send their child far from home for treatment or go without the specialized care they need. The Greenhouse is our answer to that gap. It will be a place where young people can settle into an environment built for healing, where they are understood, supported, and surrounded by a team that believes in their capacity to recover. The Greenhouse represents a natural extension of our mission. It’s a living expression of our belief that recovery is possible—and that with the right support, families can find their footing again. 
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Are you looking for a meaningful way to give back this holiday season? Thrive Wellness is excited to continue our 6th Annual Giving Tree Program in collaboration with Perenn Bakery this winter. This year, Thrive Wellness Reno and Perenn Bakery are proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Northern Nevada. The organization supports families with children receiving treatment at area hospitals, providing comfort, hope, and a home-away-from-home during challenging times. Ronald McDonald House Charities offers essential services, removes barriers, strengthens families, and promotes healing when children need healthcare the most. How It Works Simply take one (or a few) tags from the Giving Tree, each listing an item you can purchase and donate for residents of the Ronald McDonald House. Then, drop off your item(s) at one of our designated donation locations by Friday, December 19. Items Needed: Restaurant gift cards Walmart or Target gift cards Games, puzzles, and coloring books Toys (Barbie, Hot Wheels, Lego sets, craft sets, magnet blocks, baby dolls, action figures, journals, infant toys, etc.) Children's books (picture, chapter, and graphic novels) Toiletry sets (for adults) Lotion/self-care gift sets (for adults) Sweatshirts/hoodies (adults, XS-XXL) Scarves, gloves, fuzzy socks, pajamas (all sizes) Infant diapers, onesies, and baby bottles Bulk individually wrapped snacks (granola bars, chips, etc.) Please ensure all donations are new, in original packaging, and unwrapped. Donation Drop-Off Locations Please deliver donations by Friday, December 19, to one of the following sites: Thrive Wellness 201 W Liberty St., Suite 201, Reno, NV 89501 Perenn Grocery 7600 Rancharrah Pkwy, Suite 130, Reno, NV 89511 The first 50 people to return their donations will receive a complimentary ornament gift!  Why We Give Back Through our Giving Tree program, we’re honoring one of our core values at Thrive Wellness: staying rooted in community. This annual tradition allows us to give back to those who need support most during the holiday season. We invite you to join us by taking a tag at any Thrive or Perenn location and helping spread kindness throughout our community. There’s no better way to embrace the holiday spirit than by supporting local families with thoughtful, heartfelt donations. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and continued support. Thank you for helping us make a difference!
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