The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with eating disorder symptomatology: an Australian study
Plain English summary This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with a self-reported lived experience of eating disorders across Australia. A nation-wide online survey of 1723 participants aged 16–80 years indicated eating disorders s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-021-00527-0 |
| _version_ | 1797764087350820864 |
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| author | Jane Miskovic-Wheatley Eyza Koreshe Marcellinus Kim Rachel Simeone Sarah Maguire |
| author_facet | Jane Miskovic-Wheatley Eyza Koreshe Marcellinus Kim Rachel Simeone Sarah Maguire |
| author_sort | Jane Miskovic-Wheatley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plain English summary This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with a self-reported lived experience of eating disorders across Australia. A nation-wide online survey of 1723 participants aged 16–80 years indicated eating disorders symptoms increased globally including body image concern (for 88% of participants), food restriction (74%) and binge eating (66%), especially for those reporting more acute eating disorder illness, poorer mental health (including depression, anxiety, and stress) and experience of loneliness. Albeit necessary, several pandemic experiences were identified as being particularly associated with more acute eating disorder illness such as changes in daily routine, social media reactions, restricted access to support people, and changes to treatment. As less than half of the participants were in treatment at assessment and over 40% had never sought formal diagnosis or treatment, this study highlights the prevalence of unidentified and unsupported people in the community experiencing increase eating disorder symptoms during this pandemic and the need for clinical awareness in general medical and mental health practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:50:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-148cb605696d4ec499f41d492d8aa6c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-2974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:50:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-148cb605696d4ec499f41d492d8aa6c32023-08-02T03:09:37ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742022-01-0110111410.1186/s40337-021-00527-0The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with eating disorder symptomatology: an Australian studyJane Miskovic-Wheatley0Eyza Koreshe1Marcellinus Kim2Rachel Simeone3Sarah Maguire4InsideOut Institute, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of SydneyInsideOut Institute, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of SydneySydney Local Health DistrictInsideOut Institute, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of SydneyInsideOut Institute, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of SydneyPlain English summary This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with a self-reported lived experience of eating disorders across Australia. A nation-wide online survey of 1723 participants aged 16–80 years indicated eating disorders symptoms increased globally including body image concern (for 88% of participants), food restriction (74%) and binge eating (66%), especially for those reporting more acute eating disorder illness, poorer mental health (including depression, anxiety, and stress) and experience of loneliness. Albeit necessary, several pandemic experiences were identified as being particularly associated with more acute eating disorder illness such as changes in daily routine, social media reactions, restricted access to support people, and changes to treatment. As less than half of the participants were in treatment at assessment and over 40% had never sought formal diagnosis or treatment, this study highlights the prevalence of unidentified and unsupported people in the community experiencing increase eating disorder symptoms during this pandemic and the need for clinical awareness in general medical and mental health practice.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-021-00527-0Eating disordersAnorexia nervosaCOVID-19PandemicPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Jane Miskovic-Wheatley Eyza Koreshe Marcellinus Kim Rachel Simeone Sarah Maguire The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with eating disorder symptomatology: an Australian study Journal of Eating Disorders Eating disorders Anorexia nervosa COVID-19 Pandemic Public health |
| title | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with eating disorder symptomatology: an Australian study |
| title_full | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with eating disorder symptomatology: an Australian study |
| title_fullStr | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with eating disorder symptomatology: an Australian study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with eating disorder symptomatology: an Australian study |
| title_short | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with eating disorder symptomatology: an Australian study |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic and associated public health response on people with eating disorder symptomatology an australian study |
| topic | Eating disorders Anorexia nervosa COVID-19 Pandemic Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-021-00527-0 |
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