A large European study has found that children born to mothers with eating disorders were more likely to develop wheezing in preschool years and asthma in early school age. The findings, published in Thorax, add new context to the growing body of research showing how maternal health can influence early immune and respiratory development.
The study drew on data from seven birth cohorts in the EU Child Cohort Network, covering 131,495 mother–child pairs. Eating disorders before pregnancy were reported at rates ranging from 1% to 17% across the cohorts.
Overall, maternal eating disorders were associated with a 25% higher risk of preschool wheezing and a 26% higher risk of asthma in school-age children. These patterns remained even after researchers excluded mothers with depression or anxiety. The associations were similar for anorexia and bulimia, and the timing of the eating disorder did not point to a single period of higher vulnerability.
The authors noted that the study cannot show cause and effect, but the consistency of the associations raises questions about how maternal health may influence early immune and lung development.
“The mechanisms underlying the associations between maternal mental health and childhood respiratory outcomes remain unclear,” the researchers wrote.
The team pointed to several possible pathways, including stress-related hormonal changes during pregnancy or links between eating disorders and known respiratory risk factors such as fetal growth restriction, prematurity and low birth weight. Shared underlying biology may also play a role.
The authors say the findings point to the importance of recognizing maternal eating disorders in early-life health research. They also encourage health care systems to consider screening and support during pregnancy as part of broader maternal care.
This research was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.