Eighteen Months Later

Eighteen Months Later

Posted 9/15/21

The incidence of eating disorders skyrocketed during the pandemic. New cases, relapses and severity of illness all worsened at a dizzying clip. Clinicians’ outpatient practices were all full. Treatment programs were virtual for a time and had endless waitlists. All outpatient treatment was virtual, and people languished at home.

Virtual treatment led to patients finding practitioners all over the country. Geography was no longer a barrier, and treatment varied accordingly since no one knew how to help people through a screen and had to learn on the fly.

The lack of a clear treatment path also meant patients looked to social media more than ever for help and advice. Instagram and TikTok became central to many people trying to find information and guidance about treatment and recovery.

Never has there been such an enormous change in the eating disorder treatment world. Even as clinicians trickle back into the office, it’s unclear what happens next. Are eating disorders a chronic, untreatable illness? A passing phase caused by the pandemic? A community to join during the most isolated months? An identity to cling to when life stopped?

The fallout from this extended transformation of eating disorders will ultimately lead to a sharp uptick in severe cases who had enormous difficulty getting help at the start of their illness. And the treatment community will need to piece together a way to salvage this treatment and help many of these patients find the path to get well.

After an eighteen month hiatus primarily caused by fear, a constant stream of people reaching out for help and weathering the worst of this terrifying time, I feel ready to embark on chronicling the ever-changing world of eating disorders and treatment.

The first posts will elaborate on the changes in eating disorder treatment and the challenges that lie ahead for those looking for recovery.