Covid-19 anxiety linked to body image issues: Study

LONDON: Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have found that anxiety and stress directly linked to Covid-19 could be causing a number of body image issues amongst women and men. The research, led by Professor Viren Swami of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, involved 506 UK adults with an average age of 34. Amongst women, the study found that feelings of anxiety and stress caused by Covid-19 were associated with a greater desire for thinness. It also found that anxiety was significantly associated with body dissatisfaction. In the male participants, the study found that Covid-19-related anxiety and stress was associated with greater desire for muscularity, with anxiety also associated with body fat dissatisfaction. Negative body image is one of the main causes of eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia. (IANS)

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