COVID-19 impact: Survey shows 48% of respondents not motivated enough to eat well

COVID-19 impact: Survey shows 48% of respondents not motivated enough to eat well

Dubai: Stress-eating or overeating is increasingly raising concerns as one of the collateral damages of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many worrying that their food choices are unhealthy, affecting well-being and self-esteem, fear psychologists. Anxiety, boredom and stress, triggered by lack of social outings, and being confined to homes have resulted in people resorting to binging on comfort foods as a coping mechanism. Nadia Brooker, a specialist eating disorder psychologist at Priory Wellbeing Centre, Dubai, told Gulf News that of late, she had been treating several patients complaining of stress-eating. Brooker explained: "During stressful times, our bodies often crave high calorie, high sugar foods, as these provide energy bursts and activate the pleasure centres of our brains that help regulate difficult emotions. Because stress elevates cortisol levels, it can also increase our appetites." Brooker added that the restriction of socialising and fear of COVID-19 had triggered in many elevated amounts of anxiety, loneliness, anger or even boredom, making some people more vulnerable to binge-eating. She sounded a word of caution to all such people. "Using food as an emotional 'crutch' can quickly become the norm and may eventually lead to disordered eating patterns." As the pandemic continues globally and many people