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Marie-Christine Opitz

Bio: Marie-Christine Opitz is an academic researcher from University of Edinburgh. The author has contributed to research in topics: Eating disorders & Mental health. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 3 publications receiving 43 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 2021-Appetite
TL;DR: Overall, the impact of the lockdown was experienced as a catalyst for either increased disordered eating behaviours or for a drive for recovery, depending on individual circumstances going into these restrictions.

59 citations

Journal Article
01 Jan 2021-Appetite
TL;DR: In this article, a qualitative study explores the impact of COVID-19 and associated public health measures on adults with eating disorders within the UK and finds that the impact can be experienced as a catalyst for either increased disordered eating behaviours or for a drive for recovery.

35 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 2020-Appetite
TL;DR: Based on the reported psychometric properties of all available Orthorexia Nervosa assessment tools, it is advised to re-evaluate existing tools and to focus on establishing consensus regarding the conceptualization of ON to establish a measure with sound psychomet properties.

34 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper examined 8-month changes in body image and disordered eating during the COVID-19 pandemic, and explored whether any changes were moderated by gender, age, or eating disorder history.

1 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: For instance, this paper analyzed individual experiences of orthorexia nervosa (ON), a term commonly associated with obsessive health behaviors, in Reddit comments to identify common characteristics and perceived causes of ON as reported in eating disorder- and diet-related subreddits.
Abstract: The present study analysed individual experiences of orthorexia nervosa (ON), a term commonly associated with obsessive health behaviors. With no universal definition available in research or practice, this study aimed to analyse six months of publicly available Reddit data to identify common characteristics and perceived causes of ON as reported in eating disorder- (ED) and diet-related subreddits. A Python code was used to extract comments from a publicly available Reddit data archive. To explore themes for each category of subreddit, a text-mining approach was combined with thematic analysis within a social constructionist framework. In both subreddit categories, the manifestation of ON was conceptualized in the context of shifting ED expressions and associated with the perception of food as a threat as well as the pursuit of superiority. In ED-subreddits, commenters discussed ON as a safety mechanism for health anxieties, the role of the body as visualising ON, and ON’s role within a proactive selfcare culture. Diet-related subreddit themes encompassed the conceptualization of ON as health perfectionism, ON’s underlying mental health concerns, and ON pathology as the result of problematic norms. The analysis of 246 online comments revealed a wide scope of ON conceptualizations and highlighted the need for a coherent diagnostic model of ON, which takes into account sociocultural as well as individual factors.

Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
01 May 2021-Appetite
TL;DR: In this paper, an online survey was conducted to compare measures of self-reported physical (BMI), psychological (Alexithymia), affective (anxiety, stress, and depression) and social (income, workload) state during phase 1 and phase 2 of COVID 2019.

128 citations

DOI
15 Apr 2020
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the psychological, social, and neuroscientific effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and set out the immediate priorities and longer-term strategies for mental health science research.
Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having a profound effect on all aspects of society, including mental health and physical health. We explore the psychological, social, and neuroscientific effects of COVID-19 and set out the immediate priorities and longer-term strategies for mental health science research. These priorities were informed by surveys of the public and an expert panel convened by the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and the mental health research charity, MQ: Transforming Mental Health, in the first weeks of the pandemic in the UK in March, 2020. We urge UK research funding agencies to work with researchers, people with lived experience, and others to establish a high level coordination group to ensure that these research priorities are addressed, and to allow new ones to be identified over time. The need to maintain high-quality research standards is imperative. International collaboration and a global perspective will be beneficial. An immediate priority is collecting high-quality data on the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across the whole population and vulnerable groups, and on brain function, cognition, and mental health of patients with COVID-19. There is an urgent need for research to address how mental health consequences for vulnerable groups can be mitigated under pandemic conditions, and on the impact of repeated media consumption and health messaging around COVID-19. Discovery, evaluation, and refinement of mechanistically driven interventions to address the psychological, social, and neuroscientific aspects of the pandemic are required. Rising to this challenge will require integration across disciplines and sectors, and should be done together with people with lived experience. New funding will be required to meet these priorities, and it can be efficiently leveraged by the UK's world-leading infrastructure. This Position Paper provides a strategy that may be both adapted for, and integrated with, research efforts in other countries.

93 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There was a large increase in the number of hospitalizations and an increase in ED symptoms, anxiety, depression, and changes to BMI in ED patients during the pandemic, however, these changes appeared to be diagnostic and timing specific.
Abstract: Abstract Objective A growing body of evidence suggests that individuals with eating disorders (EDs) have experienced deteriorating symptoms, increased isolation, and an increase in hospital admissions as a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Despite this, no systematic reviews have been conducted examining the COVID‐19 and ED peer‐reviewed literature. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to synthesize the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on individuals with EDs. Method Database searches of the peer‐reviewed literature were completed in the subsequent databases: CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO (from November 2019 to October 20, 2021). All research reporting on the relationship between the COVID‐19 pandemic on individuals with EDs were included. Results Fifty‐three studies met the inclusion criteria, including 36,485 individuals with EDs. The pooled hospital admissions across the studies demonstrated on average a 48% (pre = 591, post = 876, n = 10 studies) increase in admissions during the pandemic compared to previous pre‐pandemic timepoints. In this review, 36% of studies (n = 19) documented increases in eating disorder symptoms during the pandemic, this increase in eating disorder symptoms were documented in AN, BED, BN, and OFSED patients. Studies also demonstrated increases in anxiety (n = 9) and depression (n = 8), however patterns of change appeared to be diagnostic and timing specific (e.g., lockdowns). Discussion We found a large increase in the number of hospitalizations and an increase in ED symptoms, anxiety, depression, and changes to BMI in ED patients during the pandemic. However, these changes appeared to be diagnostic and timing specific. Many qualitative studies described deterioration in ED symptomatology due to decreased access to care and treatment, changes to routine and loss of structure, negative influence of the media, and social isolation. Future studies are needed to focus on pediatric populations, new ED diagnoses, and severity of illness at presentation. Public Significance The scientific literature suggests that individuals with eating disorders have experienced deteriorating symptoms, increased isolation, and an increase in hospital admissions as a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic. This study synthesized 53 articles and explored the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on patients with eating disorders. We found increases in eating disorder symptoms during the pandemic; this increase in eating disorder symptoms was documented in patients with common eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, binge‐eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and other specified feeding and eating disorders. This review also demonstrated changes in body mass index (an index used to classify underweight, overweight, and obesity in adults) and increases in anxiety and depression during the pandemic compared to previous timepoints; patterns of change appeared to be related to timing of lockdowns. This review provides important information on the impact of COVID‐19 on the physical and mental health of individuals with eating disorders.

79 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 2021-Appetite
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors study how consumers' food-related habits in Russia have shifted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and potential problems and opportunities this might bring for the Russian food system.

72 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted a cross-sectional online survey that aimed to examine changes in dietary habits and associated practices, as well as physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and before the onset of lockdowns in three European countries: Poland, Austria and the United Kingdom.
Abstract: During the so-called “second wave of the pandemic” in Europe, the authors conducted a cross-sectional online survey that aimed to examine changes in dietary habits and associated practices, as well as physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and before the onset of lockdowns in three European countries: Poland, Austria and the United Kingdom. Methods: The online observational study, both prospective and retrospective, conducted with the use of social media for the distribution of an anonymous online questionnaire, was completed from 1 October to 30 October 2020, during the second wave of the pandemic in Europe. The study encompassed a total of 1071 adults from Poland (n = 407), Austria (n = 353) and the United Kingdom (n = 311). Results: The results of this study indicate that the COVID-19 confinement period influenced eating behavior and the level of physical activity in a group of adult residents of Poland, Austria and the United Kingdom. The general shopping frequency decreased, regardless of the place and manner. However, there was an increased interest in online grocery shopping. The resulting data revealed an increased frequency of the daily consumption of food products such as dairy, grains, fats, vegetables and sweets (p < 0.05). A rise in the frequency of purchasing frozen goods and food with long shelf life has also been observed. The changed workplace and working conditions or unemployment probably affected a perceptible rise in alcohol consumption (p = 0.02). In turn, physical activity levels markedly decreased, which reflected the body mass changes. Conclusion: The dietary habits in the studied countries have changed as a result of the pandemic situation. They contribute to the aggravation of the problem of excess body weight and its health consequences.

59 citations