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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Aug 17;15(16):3607.
doi: 10.3390/nu15163607.

The Impact of the First and Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Eating Symptoms and Dysfunctional Eating Behaviours in the General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Rubinia Celeste Bonfanti  1 , Lucia Sideli  2 , Arianna Teti  3 , Alessandro Musetti  4 , Stefania Cella  5 , Nadia Barberis  6 , Bianca Borsarini  7 , Lucia Fortunato  3 , Cristina Sechi  8 , Nadia Micali  7 , Gianluca Lo Coco  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The Impact of the First and Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Eating Symptoms and Dysfunctional Eating Behaviours in the General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Rubinia Celeste Bonfanti et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the prevalence of feeding and eating disorder (FED) symptoms or dysfunctional eating behaviours (DEB) in the general population during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Method: We searched eligible articles in biomedical databases from 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2022. Prevalence rates of FED or DEB changes between pre-pandemic and pandemic time and correlation with psychological distress were pooled with a meta-analysis using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was tested using I-squared (I2) statistics. A total of 186 studies with 406,076 participants met the inclusion criteria.

Results: The more prevalent FED or DEB during the COVID-19 outbreak were: body image concerns (52%, 95% CI 0.38, 0.66), binge eating (40%, 95% CI 0.25, 0.55), and overeating (40%, 95% CI = 0.32-0.48). Pooled data of longitudinal studies (k = 8) only showed a significant difference in the prevalence of weight gain from pre-pandemic to the pandemic time. Finally, increased levels of psychological distress (k = 35) positively correlated with some ED symptoms.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis evidenced a negative impact of the pandemic on eating symptoms and DEB in the general population.

Keywords: COVID-19; dysfunctional eating behaviours; eating disorders; general population; meta-analysis; systematic review.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) flowchart of study selection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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