Changes in eating and exercise behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in a community sample: A retrospective report

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated extreme physical, psychological, and social consequences across the world, many of which have the potential to exacerbate disordered eating and exercise behaviors. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess changes in eating pathology and exercise behaviors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in a community sample. Participants (n = 159, Mage = 27.59 years, 90.6% female) were individuals in the United States surveyed during COVID-19. Participants completed measures quantifying eating pathology, exercise behaviors, and motives for exercise both prior to and during the pandemic. All results compare variables prior to and during COVID-19. Overall, individuals with a prior eating disorder (ED) diagnosis did not report significantly different changes in eating or exercise pathology compared to the non-ED group. Participants had significantly fewer episodes of overeating (p