{"id":47109,"date":"2020-04-06T17:00:52","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T16:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/?p=47109"},"modified":"2020-04-06T17:00:52","modified_gmt":"2020-04-06T16:00:52","slug":"hope-virgo-for-people-with-eating-disorders-covid-19-adds-another-layer-of-complication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/2020\/04\/06\/hope-virgo-for-people-with-eating-disorders-covid-19-adds-another-layer-of-complication\/","title":{"rendered":"Hope Virgo: For people with eating disorders, covid-19 adds another layer of complication\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Imagine arriving at the supermarket. You head over to where you normally start your shop only to find there is nothing there. You head to the next aisle; on one shelf is a can of tuna, but not the one you normally get. The panic sets in. It all feels too much so you head home. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

After washing your hands, you settle on to the sofa and open up your social media feed, only to be bombarded with \u201cuse this time to lose weight,\u201d \u201cjoin this week of fitness,\u201d \u201c#coronacalories.\u201d The messaging is endless. Your brain starts to turn over and over. Those words start to come back. Those feelings of disgust at your own body, at food. The eating disorder starts to talk, reminding you of the sense of control it will give you in this time of uncertainty.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This is the current reality for millions of people around the country; not only those who are still in treatment from an eating disorder, but even those in recovery. As an author and campaigner who talks about my experience of having an eating disorder, I\u2019ve had hundreds of people get in touch with me over the past couple of weeks, fearful of what covid-19 will mean for their recovery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

People with eating disorders tend to have a relationship with food that is characterised by a real sense of guilt and shame. Some of the people I\u2019ve heard from say that their guilt has expanded to cover feeling bad about even buying food, rooted in a concern that more vulnerable people might need it more than them. Other fears are around stockpiling, not being able to get safe foods, and also that the usual support services for many people are being taken away due to the current lockdown situation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Day units are being shut all over the country, leaving many people afraid of how they\u2019ll cope. While we are in a pandemic and there is so much vital work that needs to be done, it is important that we remember people with eating disorders among this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With limited resources available, and so many specialist services compromised, there are still things that healthcare professionals (and other people) can do to help:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n