Eating disorder prevalance in the period of COVID-19: Predictors of eating disorder symptoms

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global crisis, leaving physical and mental effects on humanity. One of the factors that is affected by the pandemic is eating behavior. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of eating disorders and the predictors of eating disorder symptoms such as difficulties in emotion regulation, intolerance of uncertainty, eating attitudes, and gender during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first phase of the current study, a total of 682 people (601 women, 81 men) who are between the ages of 18-30 and living in Turkey were reached by online platforms. Data of the study was collected by Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale Short Form (IUS-12). It was thought that the 15% who got the highest score in the EDE-Q and the people who got a cut-off score of on the EAT-26 have an eating disorder risk. In the second phase, the eating disorder diagnosis of the risky participants was evaluated by conducting an online clinical interview, using the Semi-Structured Eating Disorder Interview Form (EDA-5) for the DSM-5. According to the results, the prevalence of eating disorders was found to be 3% (N=20 females, 1 male) in the whole sample, and the highest rate was 1.3% (N=9) with Binge Eating Disorder. Prevalence rates were found to be as listed: Bulimia Nervosa (N=5) 0.7%, Anorexia Nervosa ( N=3) 0.4%, subthreshold BED (N=3) 0.4%, and subthreshold NR (N=1) 0.14%. The prevalence of people who did not meet the ED criteria but showed an disordered eating behavior (N=2) was 0.29%. In addition, while gender, emotional regulation difficulties and eating attitudes significantly predicted the eating behaviors, intolerance of uncertainty did not predict eating behaviors. Results revealed that the prevalence rates of ED during the pandemic is higher than the previous prevalence studies conducted in our country. Therefore, in line with the literature, it is thought that these results might be evidence of an increase in the prevalence of eating disorders during the COVID-19 period. Keywords: Eating disorders, prevalence, COVID-19 pandemic, emotion regulation difficulties, intolerance to uncertainty.