Eating Disorders News Weekly: Sleep Disorders, Pregnancy & Demi Lovato Opens Up

This week in eating disorder news covers – Increased rates of depression during and after pregnancy in women who have suffered from eating disorders; Demi Lovato opens up about her battles with eating disorders, depression, and cutting; Sleep related eating disorders from binge eating at night to eating and sleepwalking. Read more on these three topics in our Eating Disorders in the news weekly wrap-up.

This week in Eating Disorder News:

Eating Disorders Lead To Perinatal Depression In Women and Development Delays in Infants

Recent Studies show that women who have suffered from eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating, are at much higher risk for experiencing depression during pregnancy. While 10% of the general population face depression during or shortly after pregnancy, studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel School of Medicine have found that 30% of women facing depression during pregnancy previously suffered from an eating disorder and/or abuse as a child. Many developmental delays are seen in the children of women with perinatal depression. It is believe that depressed mothers are less likely to interact with their babies, which leads to a less stimulating and enriching environment, which is known to lead to developmental delays. To read more on pregnancy and eating disorders please read the full article here in BizJournals.com.

Demi Lovato Opens Up About Eating Disorders

We’ve previously blogged about this amazing Disney star and her public facing battle with eating disorders. Even at the young age of 18, actress Demi Lovato wants to help be a role model for girls’ struggling with eating disorders and other body image issues. Demi Lovato opened up to Seventeen magazine about her “dark period” that included depression, eating disorders and cutting, ultimately landing her in rehabilitation last year at an Illinois facility. Since coming back from rehabilitation, Lovato hopes to help show girls that they can overcome their eating disorders and live life in a healthy way. Read more about Demi’s story here.

Video: Sleep Related Eating Disorders

This video contains a discussion on the topic of sleep-related eating disorders. These disorders vary and can range from binge eating at night to eating while sleep walking. What is frightening is that many people will go to bed and wake up with empty dishes or crumbs in their bed, not knowing what happened. This form of nocturnal eating is unhealthy and can be linked to a variety of different eating disorders and medical complications. Learn more and watch the video below: