Attitude and experience of obstetricians and gynecologists toward eating disorders assessment and management in Japan: A nationwide survey

Abstract

AimTo investigate the attitudes and experiences of obstetricians and gynecologists in treating women with eating disorders (EDs) in Japan.MethodsMembers of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology were invited to participate in a web‐based survey from March 1 to 31, 2022. We asked about the attitudes of obstetricians and gynecologists toward women with weight loss‐related amenorrhea and their experiences in treating EDs. We also assessed the characteristics of physicians who see many ED patients.ResultsA total of 662 ob/gyns. responded to the survey. While treating weight loss‐related amenorrhea, 25.8% reported screening patients for EDs. 88.5% of respondents reported having treated ED patients. The main medical concerns described when treating pregnant women with ED were fetal growth restriction and preterm delivery. The most common type of ED encountered by participants in both perinatal and infertility care settings was anorexia nervosa. Characteristics of physicians who treated 10 or more EDs per year were being board certified in women's health care and not providing delivery services (OR = 4.809, 1.896). The most common comment regarding optimizing the management of patients with EDs in obstetrics and gynecology practice was the need to implement guidelines for ED management.ConclusionsMany obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan treat patients with ED. Standardized guidelines for the management of EDs for obstetricians and gynecologists are needed.