Pandemic obesity messages may be exacerbating eating disorders

ANTI-OBESITY messages resulting from the Covid crisis could be fuelling eating disorders, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned.

Dr Agnes Ayton, chair of the college’s faculty of eating disorders, said: “Because of the lockdown, people’s social networks and their social support systems have reduced quite significantly.

“A lot of public health messages have been about weight loss and exercise during the pandemic, and that has been promoted by the Government because of the risk of obesity and serious Covid. But if you are a younger person worrying about your weight and shape, you’re bombarded with these messages and think ‘I should lose weight’.”

She said the pandemic in itself was likely to have fuelled anxiety among those with eating disorders.

“During the pandemic, there’s a lot of anxiety and a lot of uncertainty, and there has also been uncertainty about food.

“People have been buying things that may last longer. Some of these foods – like pasta or biscuits – can be trigger foods for people who are bingeing or who have bulimia,” she said.

The psychiatrist said waiting times for eating disorder treatment had doubled in some areas of the country, after bed numbers were cut to allow more social distancing. This was also putting lives at risk, she warned. There are currently 455 adult inpatient beds in the UK for eating disorders, and people can face long waits for a space, while some are sent miles from their homes.

“Beds have been reduced in the pandemic due to infection control issues,” Dr Ayton said. “The vast majority of NHS hospitals, particularly adult services, are all dilapidated buildings and very small rooms …

“The number of people referred for admission with severe eating disorders is a small proportion ... but you’re talking about people who are at really high risk of dying or at potential risk of dying,” she added.