One year in: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on help-seeking behaviors among youth experiencing eating disorders and their caregivers.

ABSTRACT

We analyzed service utilization data from the National Eating Disorder Information Centre's (NEDIC) toll-free helpline/chat to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on help-seeking behaviors among youth with disordered eating and their caregivers. The number of contacts from affected youth (n = 650) and caregivers (n = 823) was significantly higher in the pandemic year than 2018 and 2019. The proportion of affected youth reporting dieting/restriction, perfectionism, and weight pre-occupation was significantly higher during the pandemic than in 2018 and 2019. Our findings lend support to accounts from expert clinicians reporting an increase in youth presenting with eating disordered symptoms during the pandemic.