Exploring changes in body image, eating and exercise during the COVID-19 lockdown: A UK survey

Abstract

Early reports suggest that lockdown measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., social distancing) are having adverse consequences for people’s mental health, including increases in maladaptive eating habits and body dissatisfaction. Certain groups, such as those with pre-existing mental health difficulties, may be especially at risk. The current study explored perceived changes in eating, exercise, and body image during lockdown within the United Kingdom, using an online survey (n = 264). There were large individual differences in perceived changes in eating, exercise, and body image in this period. Women were more likely than men to report increasing struggles with regulating eating, preoccupation with food and worsening body image. Those with a current/past diagnosis of eating disorders reported significantly greater difficulties in regulating eating, increased preoccupation with food, exercise thoughts and behaviours and concern about appearance, even when compared to those with other mental health and developmental disorders. Ongoing research to explore individual differences in the trajectories of change in eating, exercise and body image as lockdown measures ease will be important for understanding the full psychological impact of this pandemic and improve service and public health planning going forward.

COVID-19-Related Stress and Anxiety, Body Mass Index, Eating Disorder Symptomatology, and Body Image in Women from Poland: A Cluster Analysis Approach

“…Moreover, although we have not assessed causal relationships, it may be assumed that increased stress, anxiety, and concerns are a source of body dissatisfaction, which is accompanied by constant vigilance and monitoring of weight or body shape [ 10 , 12 , 40 , 41 ]. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes in daily lives, and these changes have also been associated with less physical activity and more unhealthy eating behaviors [ 26 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. These changes may contribute to the risk of weight gain becoming greater and body assessment more negative [ 26 , 43 , 44 , 45 ].…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes in daily lives, and these changes have also been associated with less physical activity and more unhealthy eating behaviors [ 26 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. These changes may contribute to the risk of weight gain becoming greater and body assessment more negative [ 26 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. However, women who want to control these body changes and want to reduce increased weight-related anxiety may turn to measures that still remain available, including food restrictions, vomiting, and other compensatory methods [ 46 , 47 ].…”

“…Although knowledge about the symptoms of eating disorders and negative body image during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased in diverse populations [ 13 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ], research and knowledge on the symptoms of eating disorders and body image in Polish women remains limited (Polish studies published so far have concerned either the period before the pandemic [ 31 ] or a general problem of nutrition behaviors before and during COVID-19 lockdown [ 32 ]). Given the likelihood that the pandemic, attendant restrictions, and their consequences have been a source of chronic and severe stress and anxiety [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ], and, as earlier research indicated, may have had an impact on body image and eating disorder symptomatology [ 10 , 13 , 14 ], it is vital to develop a fuller understanding of this issue in Polish women.…”

Distortions to the passage of time during England’s second national lockdown: A role for depression

“…As the duration of lockdown has progressed the long-term effects have become more apparent. Health protecting behaviours such as exercise have reduced [19] and negative health behaviours such as maladaptive eating [20,21] and alcohol consumption [22] have increased. Mental health and wellbeing have also been negatively affected with widespread significant increases in depression, anxiety, isolation, and loneliness [23][24][25][26][27][28] being reported.…”

COVID-19 lockdown and lifestyles: A narrative review

“…Their unhealthy food consumption and sedentary lifestyle were attributed to a great deal of stress experienced by the children due to interruption of school and sports activities among other factors 38 . Studies also reported that individuals with eating disorders and other psychiatric disorders diagnosed prior to the lockdown fared worse during the lockdown period due to low self-directedness and less adaptive coping 20,[39][40][41][42][43][44] .…”