The Impact of COVID-19 on Eating Disorder Risks and Symptoms in the General Population: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to identify the risk factors of eating disorders, evaluate the impact of the pandemic on those with or without pre-existing eating disorders and compare the impact of COVID-19 on the various eating disorders.
 Methodology: We searched Public/Publisher MEDLINE (PubMed) and Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE) databases from January 2019 to May 2021, 11 observational studies were selected out of 81 initially identified articles. The sample size ranged from 15 to 22,374 participants, with a total of 31,404 participants.
 Results: Individuals, especially females aged 18-25 years and 30-45 years were shown to be more susceptible to eating disorder risks and symptoms. Depression and anxiety were shown to be the most prevalent risk factors among all subjects. Exacerbation of symptoms was observed in subjects with the eating disorders except for the anorexia nervosa subgroup which showed minimal changes.
 Conclusion: This study established the fact that COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the eating habits of people with or without pre-existing eating disorders (ED). This study also highlights the need for efforts to specifically identify evidence-based measures to support patients with ED during and after a pandemic.

The Impact of the First and Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Eating Symptoms and Dysfunctional Eating Behaviours in the General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…It was argued that the limited access to food stores, the greater time spent at home, and the feelings of boredom and anxiety triggered by the pandemic could have had effects on dietary styles and eating patterns, leading to irregular and emotional eating and more frequent snacking [ 25 , 26 ]. It is likely that the abrupt, traumatic lifestyle changes imposed by the pandemic have exacerbated some distinctive, eventually subthreshold, FED symptoms in relation to weight status, eating behaviours, physical activity, body dissatisfaction, and food relationship in individuals without any pre-existing FED [ 27 ]. Additionally, it was argued that the widespread increase and/or worsening of FED-like symptoms among the general population might have been a fertile ground for an increased risk of FED onset worldwide [ 27 ].…”

“…It is likely that the abrupt, traumatic lifestyle changes imposed by the pandemic have exacerbated some distinctive, eventually subthreshold, FED symptoms in relation to weight status, eating behaviours, physical activity, body dissatisfaction, and food relationship in individuals without any pre-existing FED [ 27 ]. Additionally, it was argued that the widespread increase and/or worsening of FED-like symptoms among the general population might have been a fertile ground for an increased risk of FED onset worldwide [ 27 ]. There was some initial support to this hypothesis from findings of several studies highlighting an alarming spread of FED behaviours in the general population [ 13 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”