Abstract:Background: The relationship between body-mass-index (BMI) during pregnancy and the risk of disease has been widely explored. The following study examined the relationship between self-esteem, disordered eating and body image to BMI during pregnancy.Methods: 110 women from Israel and the UK completed the following questionnaires: Sociodemographic details (self-reported age, education levels); the Rosenberg Self-Esteem questionnaire; the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ); and scales to assess body image and body image disturbance. BMI was calculated from antenatal records and classified as healthy weight (BMI <25 kg/m 2 ) or overweight (≥35 kg/m 2 ) using standard BMI cut offs. Spearman correlation, MannWhitney tests and linear regression modelling were applied to determine the relationship between variables and differences between countries and BMI categories.Results: Self -esteem did not differ from non-pregnant population levels. Frequency of high restraint (>3.5 DEBQ) was lower for UK healthy weight women. For both countries a high correlation was found between body image and BMI, with significantly higher body dissatisfaction for Israeli than UK women.
Conclusions:Io piAgonocyz UH noR IiinA,C wnmAo'i ,AvA,i no iA,o-esteem did not differ from reported ranges for non-pregnant women, whilst poor body image and more restrained eating in healthy-weight women was found only in Israel.