A major study has revealed the “detrimental” impact of COVID-19 on people who suffered from eating disorders in Australia, with 40 percent going undiagnosed. According to a survey of 1,723 Australians aged 16-80 years, taken from July to October 2020, all eating disorders symptoms have “increased,” particularly body image concerns (88 percent), food restriction (74 percent) and binge-eating (66 percent). It also found that those with more acute eating disorders, poorer mental health and experience of loneliness are more likely to experience eating disorders. Lead author Jane Miskovic-Wheatley, who is also a clinical psychologist and researcher at the InsideOut Institute, University of Sydney, said the main risk factors included changes in daily routine, restricted access to support people, changes to treatment, and exposure to news coverage and social media. “Factors such as these have exacerbated existing symptoms for many people,” Miskovic-Wheatley said, adding that there is the development of new symptoms …