The Dangerous Rise Of Momorexia

Pregnancy is a time where women should be able to pig out without the guilt. It’s dinner for two every night!

But a dangerous new trend reflects that the pressure to be thin is affecting moms. Celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Rachel Zoe and reality star Bethenny Frankel are starving themselves during and post-pregnancy in an effort to “bounce back,” according to the New York Post.

“Mommyrexia” is the new term to describe the disturbing phenomenon that’s quickly trickling down from Hollywood to “pregnant alpha women in NYC.” These moms are pulling out all the stops to lose post-pregnancy weight, including intensive gym regimens, dieting to the point of starvation and even skipping breastfeeding to have more free time to workout.

Some gyms and retailers are cashing in on the trend. “Hell hath no fury like a post-partum woman trying to get back into the groove,” admitted Joshua Margolis, a personal trainer specializing in “Stroller Boot Camp” workouts and other specialized classes to whip moms back into shape.

Rosie Pope, owner of a maternity boutique in Manhattan and star of Bravo’s show, Pregnancy in Heels, has added an extra-small size in her maternity clothing line due to popular demand. While it clearly “sends a dangerous message to other women out there,” retailers are catering to the mommyrexic crowd.

Women may fear losing their husbands because of their changed figures, but if your husband loves you, he’ll embrace your new body and celebrate the new life that it’s been able to give.

As much as we admire women who lose their baby weight fast, all women have different bodies. Certain women gain more weight than others during pregnancy and so naturally take longer to lose it. Health – both yours and your baby’s – should be the first concern.

Motherhood should be a joyful time in a woman’s life; a time to celebrate instead of obsess.

Contact the author here: tinybart@morningquickie.com