High shape and weight importance in adolescence relates to worse body image in the first perinatal period

Understanding whether shape and weight importance in adolescence relates to body image during the perinatal period is essential to inform eating disorder prevention and intervention research. We longitudinally examined the relationship between weight and shape importance during adolescence and body image during (1) pregnancy and (2) the first postpartum year. Participants included 554 women from the Life-course Experiences and Pregnancy (LEAP) study, a longitudinal cohort of women participating since adolescence in Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults). Participants reported shape and weight importance during adolescence (11-18 years old) for Project EAT and retrospectively recalled body image during and after their first pregnancy for the LEAP study 20 years later. Separate linear regression models estimated the longitudinal associations between adolescent shape and weight importance and pregnancy and postpartum body image. After covariate adjustment, results showed small, positive associations between adolescent shape and weight importance and pregnancy (B = 0.07 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.11) and postpartum (B = 0.10, 95 % CI: 0.06, 0.14) body image. These findings indicate that high shape and weight importance in adolescence relates to worse body image across the perinatal period. Results highlight the importance of (1) targeting the years prior to adolescence for eating disorder prevention interventions and (2) providing support and interventions for people in the perinatal period, specifically targeting body image.