Blow to body image as we grab more snacks at home during pandemic
THE Covid-19 lockdown has triggered problems with eating and body image, a study has found.
Despite more people exercising, many have become increasingly concerned with their appearance and their relationship with food.
The findings appear in a research paper by the University of Edinburgh, which is following changes in the population’s mental health through the pandemic.
At the start of lockdown, many people took to exercising, following online videos such as those of Joe Wicks. But the researchers found women in particular were struggling with a low opinion of their body.
The study of 264 adults across the UK found 53 per cent said that lockdown made it more difficult to regulate their eating and 60 per cent were more preoccupied with food. Half were exercising more, and half were more concerned with the way they looked.
The researchers believe the reasons behind the changes include restriction on movement and increased access to food during the day, leading to sedentary lifestyles and snacking. PhD student MacKenzie Robertson, who led the study, said: ‘Covid-related lockdowns have had a major impact on our daily routines, including how we access food.
‘Importantly, some groups appear to be more vulnerable to negative effects including women, people under 30 years old, and those with a current or past eating disorder.
‘Results suggest that we might see an increase in demand for eating disorder services across the UK as current clients may experience worsening symptoms.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We know that the pandemic will have a substantial impact on the mental health of the population. We published our mental health transition and recovery plan on October 8, which lays out key areas of mental health needs which have arisen as a result of Covid19, and actions in response to that need.
‘This includes a specific action ensuring that our National Review of Eating Disorder Services takes into account the effects of the pandemic on access to help and support.’