Oral Presentation Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society Conference 2026

Prevalence of disordered eating behaviours and psychopathology at gestational diabetes diagnosis within a multi-ethnic setting (139832)

Roslyn A Smith 1 2 , Katrina Tran 3 , Elena Ryan 4 , Zoe Jay 4 , Rebecca White 5 , Sarah Lam 6 , Jessica Barlogie 6 , Stephanie Terry 6 , Claire Harper 1 2 , Caitlin McMaster 7 , Tang Wong 6 8 9 , Vincent Wong 1 8 , David Simmons 3 9 , Robyn Barnes 6 10
  1. Liverpool Hospital Diabetes and Endocrine Service, Liverpool, NSW
  2. Dietetics Department, Liverpool Hospital, South West Sydney, NSW
  3. Macarthur Diabetes and Endocrine Service, Campbelltown, NSW
  4. Nutrition & Dietetics, School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, NSW
  5. South Western Sydney Local Health District Mental Health Services, Liverpool, NSW
  6. Diabetes Centre Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, Bankstown, NSW
  7. South Western Sydney Allied Health Research Network, Liverpool, NSW
  8. University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
  9. Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW
  10. South Western Sydney Local Health District Internal Medicine Clinical Stream, Liverpool, NSW

Background/Aim: Literature on disordered eating (DE) in gestational diabetes (GDM) is limited. We assessed DE psychopathology at GDM diagnosis in an ethnically diverse population using a validated questionnaire.

Methods: Consenting English‑literate women completed the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE‑Q) before GDM education. EDE‑Q scores indicating clinically significant global DE psychopathology (≥2.8) and subscales indicating high severity (≥4.0) were compared with Australian community norms for non‑pregnant young women¹ using Chi‑square or Fisher tests. DE behaviours were classified as “any” or "regular" if ≥1 or ≥4 episodes respectively occurred over the previous 28 days.

Results: Of 355 eligible women, 143 (40.2%) participated: mean (SD) age 32.0 (5.3) years, median (IQR) pre‑pregnancy BMI 27.5 (9.0) kg/m², prior GDM 22.7%. Ethnic distribution was 31.9% Anglo-Australian, 25.4% South-Asian, 14.5% Middle-Eastern, 13.8% South-East-Asian and 14.4% other.

Compared with community norms¹, fewer women with GDM exceeded the EDE‑Q global psychopathology threshold (7.7% vs 17.0%, p=0.003) and all subscales: restraint (0.7% vs 5.0%, p=0.019), eating concern (0.0% vs 3.0%, p=0.022), shape concern (11.2% vs 18.0%, p=0.036), and weight concern (5.6% vs 10.0%, p=0.081). Among Anglo-Australian participants, 13.3% exceeded the global threshold compared with 4.2% of Non‑Anglo-Australian women. Subscale scores were consistently lower in the latter group.

In contrast, DE behaviours were more frequent in this GDM cohort, including any objective binge eating (OBE) (41.6% vs 17.3%, p<0.0001), self‑induced vomiting (9.0% vs 3.0%, p=0.006) and laxative misuse (5.6% vs 1.8%, p=0.025). Only compulsive exercise was less frequent (22.2% vs 28.2%, p<0.001). Regular OBE were more than double the community norm (24.7% vs 10.6%, p<0.0001). DE behaviours were consistently higher among Non‑Anglo verses Anglo-Australian women, including any OBE (45.3% vs 26.1%) and regular OBE (26.6% vs 13.0%).

Conclusions: Compared with community norms, women with GDM showed lower DE psychopathology scores, yet higher rates of DE behaviours, particularly binge eating. These patterns were consistently more pronounced among Non‑Anglo-Australian participants, suggesting that the EDE‑Q may not fully capture DE psychopathology in culturally diverse populations. The high binge eating rate may warrant targeted attention within GDM care.

1 Mond JM et al. Behav Res Ther 2006;44:53–62