How Maternal Anorexia Shapes Offspring Mental Health - a Mind the Kids podcast

In this episode of the Mind the Kids Podcast, host Clara Faria, Academic Clinical Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, explores groundbreaking research on the intergenerational impact of anorexia nervosa. Joined by Professor Nathalie Auger and Professor Howard Steiger the discussion centres on their large-scale cohort study examining how maternal anorexia nervosa is associated with mental health and neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring.

Drawing on data from over one million individuals, this episode unpacks key findings on increased risks for eating disorders, attentional difficulties, and unexpected associations such as substance-related outcomes in children. The conversation also explores the complex interplay between genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors, highlighting how maternal mental health before, during, and after pregnancy can shape child development.

With insights into early intervention, stigma reduction, and clinical implications, this episode is essential listening for clinicians, researchers, and anyone interested in child and adolescent mental health, eating disorders, and developmental psychiatry.

Key topics include: maternal anorexia nervosa, intergenerational mental health, neurodevelopmental disorders, ADHD, epigenetics, pregnancy and mental health, eating disorder research, and child psychiatry.

Read the CAMH journal paper ‘Maternal anorexia nervosa and risk of mental and neurodevelopmental morbidity in offspring' Sam Amar, Gabriel Côté-Corriveau, Mimi Israël, Howard Steiger, Nancy Low, Nicholas Chadi, Émilie Brousseau, Nahantara Lafleur, Nathalie Auger First published: 02 December 2025 https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.70051

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