Purpose of Review
This review summarizes emerging evidence for the relationship between food insecurity and eating disorder (ED) pathology, outlines priorities for future research in this area, and comments on considerations for clinical and public health practice.
Recent Findings
Among adults, food insecurity is cross-sectionally associated with higher levels of overall ED pathology, binge eating, compensatory behaviors, binge-eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa. Evidence for similar relationships among adolescents has been less robust; however, compared to studies of adults, there have been substantially fewer studies conducted in adolescents to date.
Summary
Emerging evidence consistently indicates that food insecurity is cross-sectionally associated with bulimic-spectrum ED pathology among adults. Findings emphasize the need for ED research to include marginalized populations who have historically been overlooked in the ED field. Much more research is needed to better understand the relationship between food insecurity and ED pathology and to determine effective ways to intervene.
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.
Disparities in eating disorder (ED) risk, diagnosis, and treatment for those who occupy multiple marginalized social identities (e.g., combined racial/ethnic and sexual minority statuses), underscore the need for advancing multicultural research in the ED field. In this article, we argue that intersectionality-informed approaches, which
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