"Pregorexia" Inspired By Thin Celebs?

Moms-To-Be, Obsessing Over Weight, Diet, Exercise So Much They Put Baby's Health In Some Jeopardy

(CBS)  Some women get so obsessed with keeping their weight in check while pregnant that they go overboard on dieting and exercise and put their baby's health at some risk, experts say.

And some of those women may get started on the path to "pregorexia" by images of celebrities who look thin while pregnant and immediately after giving birth, observers agree.

On The Early Show Monday, Dr. Holly Phillips said women cross the line into pregorexia "when they start to change their behaviors and really focus only on that number on the scale, only on their weight. That's when it gets dangerous. ... Everything you do during pregnancy, including your diet and exercise, should be for your health not for your weight."

Phillips noted that, "Calorie restriction is linked with growth retardation (and) birth defects, and (with) vitamin deficiencies, both for the mother and baby. What's interesting about vitamin deficiencies is, say, for instance, with calcium deficiency: The baby will probably get what he or she needs, but that'll be at the expense of the mother's bones. So, you really have to be careful with that" and take in more calories overall than you ordinarily would.

Mother's of average weight are advised to gain 25-35 pounds during pregnancy, Phillips adds. If you're overweight, you should aim for the lower end of that range, and if you're underweight before pregnancy you, should gain between 28-40 pounds. Moms of twins my gain 45 or more.

Exercise can also become a matter of too much of a good thing for expectant mothers.

There are many benefits of exercise during pregnancy, Phillips pointed out, "from the mother's mental and physical health to better deliveries, better postpartum recoveries, even a higher I.Q. for the baby.

"But, you don't want to overdo it. You never want to exercise to the point where ... you're not getting enough oxygen, because that's linked with neurological defects in the baby.

"You shouldn't exercise to the point of exhaustion. If you need to throw yourself on the couch afterwards just to rejuvenate, you've done too much. You should feel invigorated after your workout, not exhausted."

The right amount of exercise should be determined by you and your doctor's office, Phillips says, and should be based on your pre-pregnancy level of cardiovascular conditioning. Specifically, if you were a tri-athlete before becoming pregnant, your pregnancy workout will naturally be more vigorous than the mom who may have been more prone to being a couch potato pre-pregnancy.

But 30 minutes of moderate cardiovascular activity four days-a-week is the minimum.

Asked by co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez whether pregorexia may be spurred, at least in part, by images of slim, pregnant celebrities, just as many teen sufferers of the eating disorder anorexia are influenced by images of skinny celebrities, Phillips replied, "I think we've never before been more kind of obsessed with celebrity culture, and with celebrity pregnancies, as well. It's not unusual to see pictures of these celebrities the day before and the day after birth and they're looking super-humanly fit. They're really incredible.

"But you also have to remember a lot of these celebrities are just genetically blessed. ... They have the best dieticians, nutritionists, (trainers), etc. They certainly have an advantage."

What's more, Phillips continues, it's wonderful that pregnant women now have designer styles to choose from, especially those that celebrate and compliment the pregnant shape. It only becomes a problem when women become unhealthily fixated on remaining a specific size.

[TakeItEasyAndStayBreezy]

First of all, for those who are bashing the 'Pregorexics'. Some of these pregnant mothers are new to this 'Motherhood' and don't know how to take it... They are so used to being fit and looking sexy.
It's not about celebrities being 'Pregorexic' and people looking up to them. It's about women and thier self esteem. Not everyone looks up to a celebrity and says: "I want to look like her."
They become 'Pregorexic' because they think they are fat or already have low self esteem. And during pregnancy WOMEN'S HORMONE LEVELS ARE UP THERE AND IMBALANCED!!!!!
Also, these women want to stay skinny BECAUSE THIER MAN KEEPS CHECKING OUT OTHER WOMEN, AND NOT SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME WITH THIER PREGNANT WOMAN!!!!!!!
So next time, before you call 'Pregorexics' "STUPID" or whatever you say or think about them, think about it first, before you start bashing other's feelings. This is a very sensitive time in a pregnant woman's life, back off... think about it.
Maybe kindly suggest they go and see a councilour/ get professional help before it's too late.

[formrusmcsgt]

Some women get so obsessed with keeping their weight in check while pregnant that they go overboard on dieting and exercise and put their baby''s health at some risk, experts say.
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Then why aren''t they charged with endangerment to a child?

[skinnyminny2]

re mythoughtsr....Not all celebrities are idiots and not all of them have nannies to push around their strollers. And to call them lazy? Many of them work hellish schedules and manage to work out every day! That''s hardly lazy. Spoiled? Maybe. but because someone is fit shortly after giving birth does not make her ''anorexic'', a ''loser'' or an ''idiot''. She just watches her diet and works out a lot--just because you don''t like it doesn''t make them stupid.

[medmom04]

This is the dumbest made-up term I''''ve ever heard. Women are ridiculed by their doctors if they gain weight during pregnancy. They use perhaps arbitrary statistics as their gauge for how much weight is acceptable during a normal pregnancy. These stats are just as erroneous as those used by the insurance industry as a basis for what is ideal for men and women of certain heights, for example. These stats are outdated and were developed when nutrition and better sources of food weren''''t always available. Women buying into the myth that they should be thin regardless of whether or not they''''re pregnant is a myth thought up by mostly men to control women and those in the fashion industry, primarily gay men, who see women without natural form and boyish. It isn''''t healthy and shouldn''''t be taken seriously.

***************
this is not credible at all, in fact. women are NO LONGER ridiculed for weight gain in pregnancy, the cap on weight gain has to do with morbities and specifically, gestational diabetes. read of these risks. ''arbitrary statistics''? you are nuts. nothing about medicine is arbitrary. these stats are correct! the amount of research that backs these ''stats'' up is staggering. sheesh god bless education, eh? prenatal care is not tied to fashion images, either. adulthood is a good thing, too, despite your take on it.

[medmom04]

Posted by Mythoughtsr at 03:46 PM : Aug 11, 2008

exactly. sheesh if you''re not going to celebrate being a woman and having your children, then DON''T DO IT! it''s not a glamour cause! It''s a huge transition into motherhood, which these pseudo-celebs can''t manage on their own, making them pseudo-moms. and the lay folks that follow suit because they admire celebrities, get a real mentor/idol. you''re as stupid as the celebs.

[mythoughtsr]

As an anti-feminist, who thinks that the masculine looking women with their sagging chests and military haircuts are revolting and vile, I gained 28, 29, 25, 29 and 31 pounds for my 5 pregnancies. I walked until my doctor told me to rest and I ate a variety of healthy, delicious meals.

These idiots in Hollywood (and the term is absolutely the most stupid thing I''ve ever heard made up) are worthless. They hire people to PUSH THEIR BABY IN A STROLLER. They are lazy, spoiled morons and I wouldn''t want anything to do with them. I''ll take my family and my non anorexic figure any over those losers. They can keep their fame. I would rather not be photographed every time I take a step or chew.

[credibility2]

This is the dumbest made-up term I''ve ever heard. Women are ridiculed by their doctors if they gain weight during pregnancy. They use perhaps arbitrary statistics as their gauge for how much weight is acceptable during a normal pregnancy. These stats are just as erroneous as those used by the insurance industry as a basis for what is ideal for men and women of certain heights, for example. These stats are outdated and were developed when nutrition and better sources of food weren''t always available. Women buying into the myth that they should be thin regardless of whether or not they''re pregnant is a myth thought up by mostly men to control women and those in the fashion industry, primarily gay men, who see women without natural form and boyish. It isn''t healthy and shouldn''t be taken seriously.

[payasyougo]

Pregorexia - the unfounded fear that Al will run as Obama''s vice presidential candidate.

[skinnyminny2]

None of these celebrities were unhealthy in any way or had unhealthy babies. Doesn''t that say something? Nicole Kidman ran throughout her pregnancy and had a perfectly healthy baby. Give me a break ladies. If you''re happy with yourself, that''s all that matters but lay off the celebrities. Many of you wouldn''t be willing to do the work required to be that fit anyway so stop whining (or do something if you''re unhappy). Obviously it''s not unrealistic to maintain a thin, fit figure.

[cdegolier]

If you are that vain, I hope you will rethink the entire having children thing. If you are more concerned about how you look when pregnant than the baby, please do not have children, you will never be a good mother. I gained 42lbs, I ate fairly healthy, exercised, even mowed the lawn once a week and took vitamins and had a beautiful healthy 8lb baby girl. I lost the weight within six months. For once in your life think of someone other than yourself.

[jennmarikp]

Any woman who doesn''t eat because she is trying to look like a celebrity (whether pregnant or not) is just plain stupid! NO FOOD = NO SURVIVAL and if you need to be told that you''re worse off then we thought! If a child is born premature or with complications due to the mother not eating or taking care of herself then the child should be removed from her care at birth.

[eggy1620]

:Posted by GOP_forever


I thought one of the tenets of feminism was to not care how you look, a la Martha Burke.

[xxunknown]

This is the modern feminist, putting vanity in front of the health of the baby. INHO these women are selfish!
Posted by GOP_forever
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I agree.

[hypnotoad72]

Selfishness. it''s not about the baby but their own looks. No more so than "Thomas", a trannie who went off drugs to get inseminated, then managed to grow a beard because everyone kept saying she didn''t go back on drugs... I had no idea male hormones, as a temporary injection, could cause permanent hair growth. Who needs "Hair Club for Men"? That or she was lying, hmmm...

No wonder our society is down the toilet. Selfishness, in that one word, more than sums it up.

[nextgenman]

Love baby love yourself,the B l a c k w h i t e c o n n e c t

DOTC o mcan tell u more about that for u!


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Posted by vivi3030 at 10:51 AM : Aug 11, 2008
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You freak. I hope somebody hacks your website and trashes your server.

[decemberx]

If you are that vain, perhaps you shouldn''t be having children in the first place.

[talkingham]

Just what images of celebs are they talking about?
Do you have to read Redbook or something to see these thin pregnant celebs?

It''s a lot more of a problem the slop that many women eat during their pregnancy than staying too thin. Gobs of pesticide laden corn syrups in everything coupled with cigarette smoking (really good for the baby!) are much bigger problem than wanna-be celebs. Some women naturally drop the weight after a baby, some women never do.

[berniepeders]

"But you also have to remember a lot of these celebrities are just genetically blessed. ... They have the best dieticians, nutritionists, (trainers), etc."

Good Grief! Dieticians, nutritionists and trainers are not genetic, for Christ''s sake! What an idiot! Anyone with enough money can hire dieticians, nutritionists and trainers.