COVID Lockdowns Linked to PTSD in Patients With Eating Disorders medscape.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from medscape.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Shocking figures show more than 1.2 million people in the UK are estimated to have an eating disorder, and hospital admissions for those severely affected have risen by more than a third in recent years.
Meanwhile, Britain’s leading eating disorder charity, Beat, has reported an 80 per cent surge in calls to its helpline since the first Covid-19 lockdown in March last year.
As well as the emotional strain of the pandemic, the increase in figures is thought to be caused by a combination of factors including the effect of social media on self-esteem and body image.
Britain’s leading eating disorder charity, Beat, has reported an 80 per cent surge in calls to its helpline since the first Covid-19 lockdown in March last year
Advertisement: Pressure to lose weight or improve appearances increased during lockdowns. With gyms shut down, the online fitness industry boomed. Home workout equipment sold out in stores, fitness trainers live-streamed free at-home sessions and celebrities used their online platforms to share their personal workout routines and wellness journeys. “The mirage of the quarantine ‘glow-up’ on social media and the expectation about taking the time to change your nutrition and exercise to make a different body for yourself put a lot of pressure on people,” said Lisa MacDonald, a nutrition specialist at the University of Arizona. Although she said it was a great way for people to remain active and engage in movement, MacDonald also said it has contributed to people feeling that they lack motivation or aren’t active enough while in quarantine.
A perfect storm: UA program battles body-image struggles, eating disorders during pandemic | Business insidetucsonbusiness.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from insidetucsonbusiness.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
April 23, 2021
Each year, Body Positive Arizona sees more people interested in joining. “I think there is starting to be this recognition and movement of diversity and celebrating diverse bodies,” says Lisa MacDonald, the program’s director. (Photo courtesy of Lisa MacDonald/University of Arizona)
Before the pandemic, Body Positive Arizona members handed out compliment cards on the UArizona campus. The group hopes to resume those efforts soon. (Photo courtesy of Lisa MacDonald/University of Arizona)
PHOENIX – Beyond the physical toll of COVID-19, many are facing pandemic-related mental health challenges, including the way they view themselves and their bodies.
Stress, anxiety, depression and decreased human interaction all play a role in the development of negative body image, said Amy Lerner Wasserbauer, a clinical psychologist and counselor at Arizona State University.