Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Oct 1;12(1):153.
doi: 10.1186/s40337-024-01056-2.

Prevalence and correlates of disordered eating at a large state university before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

Carly R Pacanowski  1 , Christine Skubisz  2 , David Borton  3 , Rachel Ryding  4
Affiliations

Prevalence and correlates of disordered eating at a large state university before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

Carly R Pacanowski et al. J Eat Disord. .

Abstract

Background: Emerging adulthood is a transitory period in which disordered eating (DE) manifests; collecting data on the prevalence of DE among this population as well as demographic and behavioral correlates are important public health goals.

Methods: Data from an annual survey of undergraduate students at a large state university from 2019 to 2022 were analyzed, allowing researchers to compare prevalence and correlates before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic using two brief screeners: the SCOFF and Eating Disorder Screener for Primary Care (ESP). We hypothesized that rates of DE would be greater after the onset of COVID-19 as compared to before. We also hypothesized that those identifying as women, reporting higher alcohol or drug use, and contemplating suicide would have greater odds of reporting symptoms consistent with DE.

Results: DE was significantly lower in pre-pandemic years compared to pandemic years: ESP pre = 38.01%(n = 704), pandemic = 48.79%(n = 645), p < 0.001; SCOFF pre = 22.82%(n = 422), pandemic = 31.46%(n = 414), p < 0.001. Logistic regressions showed women and students who contemplated suicide reported significantly greater DE, regardless of screener or time period. Inconsistent relationships were found between DE and current substance use.

Conclusion: These findings may inform targeted interventions for those most vulnerable to disordered eating.

Keywords: COVID-19; College; Disordered eating; Eating disorder; Emerging adulthood; Risk factor; Screener; Surveillance; Survey; Undergraduate.

Plain language summary

It is important to track the rates of disordered eating (DE) in vulnerable populations like emerging adults (those who are between the ages of 18 and 25). Many emerging adults attend college, and during this time DE may occur. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to situations, like being isolated from friends and family, that we assume could increase DE. To present data on the rates of DE before and after the start of COVID-19, researchers collected data on whether college students engaged in DE two years before the start of COVID-19 (2019, 2020) and two after COVID-19 (2021, 2022). They considered whether characteristics of the student, like whether they were a man or woman or their race, were related to DE. DE increased significantly after COVID-19. Using one questionnaire, DE was about 38% before COVID-19 and increased to nearly 50% after COVID-19. Across all four years, women and students who thought about suicide were more likely to report DE. It is important to direct resources to students who are experiencing DE – which we now know could be as many as 50%. DE contributes to health problems and can worsen over time, leading to a life-threatening eating disorder.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Percent of students reporting DE before and after the onset of COVID-19 by screener
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Devoe J, Han D, Anderson A, Katzman A, Patten DK, Soumbasis SB. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating disorders: a systematic review. Int J Eat Disord. 2023;56:5–25. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Schneider J, Pegram G, Gibson B, Talamonti D, Tinoco A, Craddock N, et al. A mixed-studies systematic review of the experiences of body image, disordered eating, and eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Eat Disord. 2023;56:26–67. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Appolinario JC, Sichieri R, Lopes CS, Moraes CE, da Veiga GV, Freitas S, et al. Correlates and impact of DSM-5 binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa and recurrent binge eating: a representative population survey in a middle-income country. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2022;57:1491–503. - PMC - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). 10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.
    1. Pisetsky EM, Thornton LM, Lichtenstein P, Pedersen NL, Bulik CM. Suicide attempts in women with eating disorders. J Abnorm Psychol. 2013;122:1042–56. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources