She believes the pandemic has created “a perfect storm” for development of eating disorders – and that the lockdowns gave people with susceptibility to the condition too much time to focus on food, weight and over-exercise. Fierna Kennedy, a Limerick-based adult and adolescent psychotherapist with a special interest in eating disorders, says the pandemic “absolutely propelled” the development of eating disorders in vulnerable individuals. Harriet Parsons, training and development officer and psychotherapist with BodyWhys, says the official figure for men and eating disorders is one in 10. Murtagh explains another aspect contributing to why male eating disorders can be overlooked: in boys they often don’t fit the stereotype of what an eating disorder looks like. Eating disorders aren’t really about food – your child’s emotional well-being must be the focus.

Source: Irish Examiner September 10, 2021 08:01 UTC