Résumé
ObjectiveMounting evidence has suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions may have increased risk for disordered eating. To date, few studies have utilized large, multi-national samples to examine the factors that might modulate risk for increases in disordered eating. Thus, the aim of this study was to retrospectively examine changes in disordered eating behaviors the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (as compared to pre-pandemic), and to examine COVID-19 related media exposure and higher levels of eating disorder symptoms as potential moderators of changes in disordered eating behaviors.MethodA sample of 3,237 adults from Australia, France, Italy, Japan, and the U.S. participated in an online survey and completed measures of dietary restraint, external and emotional eating, orthorexia nervosa attitudes and behaviors (concerns related to healthy eating), exposure to COVID-19 related media, and completed a screening measure for levels of eating disorder symptoms.ResultsFindings revealed self-reported increases in external and emotional eating as well as healthy eating related problems, although orthorexia feelings scores decreased. Moderation analyses showed that increases in emotional eating were greatest for those with higher levels of eating disorder symptoms. More complex patterns emerged for orthorexia nervosa attitudes and behaviors, and for the role of COVID-19 related media exposure.ConclusionsFindings suggest that individuals reported increases in external and emotional eating and orthorexia nervosa attitudes and behaviors during the pandemic, relative to before. The likely complex relationships among COVID-19 related media exposure and changes in disordered eating behaviors warrant further investigation.