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Eating disorders can be common among individuals who have a skewed perception of their bodies. For those who also happen to be pregnant, the body perception is greatly altered and the development and well-being of the baby are at risk.

A new report out of Chile reveals that 10 percent of pregnant women have an eating disorder. According to Juan Valdivia, a gynecologist who works with Clinica Alemana in Santiago, this new phenomenon has been dubbed “pregorexia”. The condition appears to be sweeping across Chile as 10 percent of the nation’s pregnant women are suffering from either bulimia or anorexia.

"It’s an eating disorder that affects pregnant women who worry excessively about their figure and are afraid of becoming fat or gaining too much weight," said Patricio Vasquez, a gynecologist from the family clinic, Indisa, as quoted by the Santiago Times. “They stop feeding [themselves] to prevent the growth.”

Doctors are paying closer attention to this emerging problem in society and the focus has spread beyond Chile. The Tommy Foundation in Britain completed a study in which it was determined that 120,000 English women suffer from bulimia or anorexia during pregnancy each year.

As Valdivia highlighted, many of these women do not realize that the baby, the placenta and the body fluids necessary to support that new life represent a significant percentage of this weight gain and it cannot – nor should it be – avoided.

In cases of pregnant women also dealing with an eating disorder, the most common factors are a prior history of eating disorders and denial of pregnancy. Women who tend to be the most affected are between the ages of 25 and 35, have a high socio-economic status and work in highly competitive areas. A fear of body changes having a negative impact on their social and working life drives the condition.

"They do not seek help for this problem. It is the doctor or the husband who realizes the problem," Valdivia said. It is imperative to ensure this condition is treated, however, as the problem can lead to extreme health problems for the mother and child.

Nutritionist Paola Negron highlighted that a woman of average weight should gain between 20 and 26 pounds on average over the course of her pregnancy. Those who suffer from pregorexia tend to gain less than 18 pounds. In certain extreme conditions, pregnant mothers have gained only five pounds over the nine months of pregnancy.

Industry data shows that women who have an eating disorder during pregnancy can suffer a softening or weakening of bones, anemia, a weakened immune system, impaired healing and an increased risk of contracting viral diseases. The baby is likely to suffer growth restriction inside the womb, low birth weight and is more susceptible to developing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.