ABSTRACT
Pregnancy and parenthood are considered major stressors for first-time parents, even in the absence of mental health disorders. Family rules, responsibilities, and relationships shift dramatically during and after pregnancy, and this process may be complicated when one parent has an eating disorder. This chapter reviews the empirical foundation for providing a timely, focused intervention for parents with lifetime eating disorders as they assume their important role. The authors provide a context for understanding the subjective experience of the parents as well as the empirical data on parental and child emotional, behavioral, and physical outcomes. The transition to parenthood is described with regard to parental anorexia nervosa, parental bulimia nervosa, parental Binge-Eating Disorder, and additional eating disorders among mothers and fathers, the authors make the case for using the Parent-Based Prevention program with these families, in order to positively influence growth trajectories, eating habits, parent–child relationships, and overall wellbeing. Clinicians who are aware of the reciprocity and mutual influences between parental body image, shape, and weight concerns, the common processes involved in transition to parenthood, and children’s healthy development, can effectively target adverse parental cognitions and behaviors using the manualized Parent-Based Prevention of eating disorders intervention.
