Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Disordered Eating Behavior: Qualitative Analysis of Social Media Posts

Jan 19, 2021JMIR mental health

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Is Linked to Unhealthy Eating Habits: Analysis of Social Media Posts

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Abstract

The majority of Reddit users discussing eating disorders reported negative impacts on their psychiatric health due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Six primary themes emerged from user discussions: changes in eating disorder symptoms, exercise routines, daily life due to quarantine, emotional well-being, help-seeking behaviors, and associated health risks.
Users commonly expressed feelings of isolation, frustration, and anxiety related to the pandemic.
Many individuals utilized Reddit forums to share personal experiences, seek advice, and support each other during heightened distress.
The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated disordered eating behaviors among individuals with a history of such issues.
There is a need for future research to investigate the broader impacts of the pandemic on disordered eating behaviors and the role of social media in mental health support.

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BACKGROUND: A growing body of evidence is suggesting a significant association between the COVID-19 pandemic and population-level mental health. Study findings suggest that individuals with a lifetime history of disordered eating behavior may be negatively affected by COVID-19-related anxiety, and prevention measures may disrupt daily functioning and limit access to treatment. However, data describing the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on disordered eating behaviors are limited, and most findings focus on individuals in treatment settings.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to characterize the experiences of Reddit users worldwide who post in eating disorder (ED)-related discussion forums describing the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on their overall mental health and disordered eating behavior.

METHODS: Data were collected from popular subreddits acknowledging EDs as their primary discussion topic. Unique discussion posts dated from January 1 to May 31, 2020 that referenced the COVID-19 pandemic were extracted and evaluated using inductive, thematic data analysis.

RESULTS: Six primary themes were identified: change in ED symptoms, change in exercise routine, impact of quarantine on daily life, emotional well-being, help-seeking behavior, and associated risks and health outcomes. The majority of users reported that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health prevention measures negatively impacted their psychiatric health and contributed to increased disordered eating behaviors. Feelings of isolation, frustration, and anxiety were common. Many individuals used Reddit forums to share personal experiences, seek advice, and offer shared accountability.

CONCLUSIONS: Reddit discussion forums have provided a therapeutic community for individuals to share experiences and provide support for peers with ED during a period of increased psychiatric distress. Future research is needed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disordered eating behavior and to evaluate the role of social media discussion forums in mental health treatment, especially during periods of limited treatment access.

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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Disordered Eating Behavior: Qualitative Analysis of Social Media Posts

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