Patterns During the Pandemic: How Eating Disorders Have Affected College Students During COVID-19

In the latest issue of the Mary Christie Quarterly, MCI’s summer intern, Mollie Ames, writes about the impact of the pandemic on eating disorders among college students. “Patterns During the Pandemic: How Eating Disorders Have Affected College Students During COVID-19” includes testimonies from students who were in recovery from their eating disorder at the onset of the pandemic, as well as those who struggled through new eating and body-related concerns as the stress and isolation of quarantine took their emotional toll. Dr. Rachel Rodgers, director of the APPEAR (Applied Psychology Program for Eating and Appearance Research) at Northeastern University, provides her expertise, helping illuminate why the pandemic triggered widespread issues with food and body image and who tends to be most at-risk. As students look toward another major shift in routine, they continue to imagine what their eating, exercise, and recovery will look like upon their return to campus this fall.