An increase in eating disorders has become the unanticipated by-products of the protracted COVID-19 pandemic. The National Eating Disorders Association’s (NEDA) helpline has seen a whopping 107% increase in people contacting them for support since COVID-19 began spreading around the globe in early 2020.

To help educate the public about the realities of eating disorders and provide hope to those impacted by them, National Eating Disorders Awareness Week takes place annually during the fourth week in February. This year it runs from February 21 to 27.

NEDA reports that, “Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. National surveys estimate that 20 million women and 10 million men in America will have an eating disorder at some point in their lives.”

Disordered eating manifests in a variety of ways with different emotional, behavioral, and physical signs and symptoms.

Specific disorders include, but are not limited to, Anorexia Nervosa, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, Orthorexia, and Pica.

NEDA’s website has a detailed list of definitions and diagnostic criteria for nearly a dozen eating disorders for those interested in learning more, at nationaleatingdisorders.org/information-eating-disorder.

Local experts are doing their part to help those in need, including THRIVE Psychotherapy and Nutrition of CT, located in Ridgefield.

Nutritionist Rena Bruckman, MS, RD-N, and psychotherapist Debbie Chrabolowski, LPC, founded THRIVE in February 2016 after recognizing a need for eating disorder treatment in Northern Fairfield and Northern Westchester Counties.

They assembled a team of psychotherapists and nutritionists who offer individual therapy, family therapy, nutrition counseling, food exposure therapy, and meal support.

Bruckman shared, “Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have observed a substantial uptick in people reaching out for eating disorder treatment. In my practice, the sharpest increase has been among the adolescent and young adult populations with clients presenting younger than what I’ve seen in the past.”

Chrabolowski added, “I believe that this trend is due to, not only the fear of uncertainty triggered by COVID-19 and the subsequent need for control, but the increase in time spent on social media. Teens and young adults have become overly focused on ‘getting fit,’ losing weight, and looking their absolute best to keep up with the images and material they are viewing on social media apps.”

When someone comes to THRIVE seeking help for an eating disorder, a complete biopsychosocial and nutrition assessment that focuses on eating disorder behaviors is done.

A treatment plan is recommended once that is completed, and a medical evaluation is often necessary to determine if a person is medically stable to move forward with the treatment.

If the person passes the evaluation, treatment at THRIVE usually starts with weekly sessions with a nutritionist and therapist.

The person’s medical provider will also be an essential part of the treatment team, and the person may benefit from partaking in family therapy and/or psychiatry further into treatment.

In a joint statement, Bruckman and Chrabolowski explained, “The first phase of recovery is cessation of symptom use (restriction of intake, bingeing, purging, over-exercising). If a client is suffering from Anorexia Nervosa, refeeding and complete weight restoration are vital to the first phase of recovery. While working on eliminating behaviors, a therapist starts to explore underlying issues and work on adaptive coping skills.”

Bruckman and Chrabolowski both agree that early intervention is crucial for a better prognosis. This is so because the average time in therapy is between two to seven years.

“If outpatient care isn’t enough support to stop the behaviors or restore weight to a healthy range, the treatment team may recommend a higher level of care: a day treatment or residential program. Relapse can be part of the recovery process. Long-term support, whether by a treatment team or family members, is helpful for maintaining recovery,” they said.

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THRIVE advises that if someone suspects a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, they should be aware of common signs and symptoms, such as:

* Dieting

* Dramatic weight loss

* Dresses in layers to hide weight loss or stay warm

* Rules and rigidity around food and exercise.

* Makes frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss

* Increase in concern about the health of ingredients or reading food labels

* Evidence of purging behaviors, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics

* Limited range of preferred foods that becomes narrower over time

* Skips meals or takes small portions of food at regular meals

* Fear of eating in public or with others

* Steals or hoards food in strange places

* Hides body with baggy clothes

* Withdraws from usual friends and activities

* Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws in appearance

In general, it is important for people to not comment on their own bodies or other people’s bodies, as it can be a damaging behavior to a person with an eating disorder.

THRIVE also recommends avoiding “engaging in dieting behaviors and disordered eating behaviors themselves, discussing calorie or fat content in food, and classifying food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ or ‘healthy’ and ‘junk.’ Other terms to avoid are ‘cleanse,’ ‘detox,’ etc. A culture of overexercising can also be triggering.”

Whether you or someone you care for is experiencing disordered eating, you are not alone and there is help.

The NEDA Helpline is available to provide support, resources, and treatment options.

Depending on what is more comfortable, people can chat online Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 9 pm and Friday from 9 am to 5 pm; call 800-931-2237 Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm and Friday from 11 am to 5 pm; or text 800-931-2237 Monday through Thursday from 3 pm to 6 pm and Friday from 1 to 5 pm.

To learn more and access online resources, visit nationaleatingdisorders.org. For information about THRIVE Psychotherapy and Nutrition of CT, visit ctthrive.com.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.