How Instagram ‘Traps’ People with Eating Disorders

WITH SMOKE, MIRRORS AND FILTERS –

Dec. 3, 2021 – “People with eating disorders can get trapped in a vicious cycle of content related to disordered eating and weight loss,” says Nagata. In cases like these, he says, hospital staff may need to take away a patient’s access to social media to help with their recovery. Eating disorders and body image issues have become more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, Engeln says. One study from the University of Pennsylvania published in November found that the number of people hospitalized for eating disorders in the US doubled during the pandemic. Other research found that those who had an eating disorder before the pandemic saw it become worse.

In addition to fostering a loss of social support and daily structure, lockdowns changed many of our eating and exercise habits — all while we spent more time indoors scrolling through our phones, Engeln says.

“If you were tiptoeing around the edge of an eating disorder, COVID might have nudged you over that line,” she said.