Exploring the COVID-19 pandemic’s influence on eating disorders: insights from an Italian residential center
The findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the presentation and severity of EDs, particularly among younger individuals with lower educational backgrounds. This underscores the urgent need for targeted, integrated treatment approaches for EDs in the context of global crises, including the development of strategies to address the increased severity of comorbid conditions and higher frequency of hospital readmissions observed in this study. These results highlight the necessity of reinforcing multidisciplinary care models that integrate medical, psychological, and social support to address the heightened complexity of post-pandemic ED cases and ensure more effective, long-term treatment outcomes. Future research is essential to explore the long-term effects of the pandemic on EDs, as well as to refine treatment strategies that better support those affected.
Authors
- Francesco Monaco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1854-292X)
- Mauro Cozzolino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3195-6916)
- Martina Piacente (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1303-4117)
- Paolo Meneguzzo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3323-6071)
- Giulio Corrivetti
- Alessandra Marenna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0960-2924)
- Luca Steardo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7077-3506)
- Stefania Anna Palermo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4513-7401)
- Emanuela Ferrara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5112-7667)
- Ernesta Panarello (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6270-6490)
- Stefania Landi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7373-2665)
- Ilona Forte
- A. Mainardi
- R. Bonifacio
- Anna Longobardi
- Annarita Vignapiano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8301-3401)
- Annaluce Caputo
- Marilena Di Pierro
- Antonella Boccia
- Benedetta Di Gruttola
Institutions
- University of Salerno (IT)
- University of Padua (IT)
- Magna Graecia University (IT)
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Published
- 2025-03-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1522599
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.31
Funders
- Università degli Studi di Padova