TY - JOUR
T1 - Disordered eating in a population-based sample of young adults during the COVID-19 outbreak
AU - Simone, Melissa
AU - Emery, Rebecca L.
AU - Hazzard, Vivienne M.
AU - Eisenberg, Marla E.
AU - Larson, Nicole
AU - Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - Objective: The present study aimed to describe the experience of, and factors associated with, disordered eating in a population-based sample of emerging adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. Method: Participants in the EAT 2010–2018 (Eating and Activity over Time) study were invited to complete the C-EAT (COVID-19 EAT) survey in April–May 2020. There were 720 respondents to the survey (age: 24.7 ± 2.0 years). Psychological distress, stress, stress management, financial difficulties, and food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic were examined as cross-sectional correlates of disordered eating in 2020. Open-ended questions assessed the perceived impact of the pandemic on eating behaviors. Results: Low stress management was significantly associated with a higher count of extreme unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs). Food insecurity, higher depressive symptoms, and financial difficulties were significantly associated with a higher count of less extreme UWCBs. Higher stress and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with greater odds of binge eating. Six themes pertaining to disordered eating during the pandemic emerged: (a) mindless eating and snacking; (b) increased food consumption; (c) generalized decrease in appetite or dietary intake; (d) eating to cope; (e) pandemic-related reductions in dietary intake; and (f) re-emergence or marked increase in eating disorder symptoms. Discussion: Psychological distress, stress management, financial difficulties, and abrupt schedule changes may have contributed to disordered eating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions that target stress management, depressive symptoms, and financial strain and provide tools to develop a routine may be particularly effective for emerging adults at risk of developing disordered eating during public health crises.
AB - Objective: The present study aimed to describe the experience of, and factors associated with, disordered eating in a population-based sample of emerging adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. Method: Participants in the EAT 2010–2018 (Eating and Activity over Time) study were invited to complete the C-EAT (COVID-19 EAT) survey in April–May 2020. There were 720 respondents to the survey (age: 24.7 ± 2.0 years). Psychological distress, stress, stress management, financial difficulties, and food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic were examined as cross-sectional correlates of disordered eating in 2020. Open-ended questions assessed the perceived impact of the pandemic on eating behaviors. Results: Low stress management was significantly associated with a higher count of extreme unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs). Food insecurity, higher depressive symptoms, and financial difficulties were significantly associated with a higher count of less extreme UWCBs. Higher stress and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with greater odds of binge eating. Six themes pertaining to disordered eating during the pandemic emerged: (a) mindless eating and snacking; (b) increased food consumption; (c) generalized decrease in appetite or dietary intake; (d) eating to cope; (e) pandemic-related reductions in dietary intake; and (f) re-emergence or marked increase in eating disorder symptoms. Discussion: Psychological distress, stress management, financial difficulties, and abrupt schedule changes may have contributed to disordered eating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions that target stress management, depressive symptoms, and financial strain and provide tools to develop a routine may be particularly effective for emerging adults at risk of developing disordered eating during public health crises.
KW - COVID-19
KW - binge eating
KW - financial difficulty
KW - psychological distress
KW - unhealthy weight control
KW - young adults
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102463208&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85102463208&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/eat.23505
DO - 10.1002/eat.23505
M3 - Article
C2 - 33720460
AN - SCOPUS:85102463208
SN - 0276-3478
VL - 54
SP - 1189
EP - 1201
JO - International Journal of Eating Disorders
JF - International Journal of Eating Disorders
IS - 7
ER -