With people being more isolated than ever and restrictions on how we go food shopping, reporter Jess Ward speaks to a recovering anorexic to understand how the lockdown might be affecting those with an eating disorder.

For many of us, our eating habits have changed dramatically ever since the pandemic struck.

In these stressful times some people have either been gorging themselves on whatever they can find and bake, or they have been eating very little.

So why are people finding that they are eating more often or eating more unhealthily during lockdown?

And what concerns are there for those with eating disorders who may be finding it easier to practise bad habits?

I contacted the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics (DoND) and Mental Health Services (MHS) about binge eating.

The teams confirmed that emotional eating is likely to be ’more prevalent during this current stressful time’.

Despite food not being as easily accessible as usual, it is still possible to access a wide variety of food stuffs which many people maybe using food as a way to ’manage difficult emotions and as a self-soothing strategy’.

A spokesman said: ’Reaching for food as a form of comfort is not inherently "bad".

’A certain amount of ’’non-hungry eating" is completely normal.

’It can become a problem in the longer term if someone feels food is their only way of coping with difficult emotions.’

They said that we can sometimes overeat if we haven’t eaten enough and advise that eating regularly will help keep blood sugar levels steady.

’Our brain uses a huge amount of energy each day and it’s important that it receives the fuel it needs in order to function,’ they said.

’If emotional eating is a problem, offer yourself compassion.

’Have a think about your emotional tool box, and if there are other coping strategies that might be more helpful than food.

’Is there something else you need right now?

’Perhaps getting some fresh air and sunlight or a calling a friend.’

With more opportunity to spend time looking at social media there can also be pressure to exercise more and "eat right".

The teams encourage that you don’t compare yourself to others, but do what’s right for you and listen to your body.

It recommends useful resources from the British Dietetic Association called "Food Facts" that can help guide people in making healthy, balanced choices.

These can be found at www.bda.uk.com.

They added: ’We must be kind to ourselves that we are doing the best that we can given the current circumstances.’

The team acknowledges that this will be a ’particularly challenging’ time for people who struggle with an eating disorder.

’The British Eating Disorder charity Beat has seen a 30% increase in demand for their services during the outbreak,’ the spokesman said.

’People are generally feeling more anxious and stressed than usual and this may cause more disordered behaviours around food as a way of coping.

’It may also be difficult for people to get hold of their safe foods and certain food brands during this time.’

I spoke to one Ramsey woman in her fifties who is recovering from anorexia and wishes to remain anonymous.

She admits that she can sometimes find the pandemic changes difficult when trying to change harmful habits.

’Anorexia survives on secrecy and deceit and with conditions that are out there now with self-isolation and restrictions with shopping, it will be so easy in these situations to get away with it,’ she said.

She believes she always had ’anorexic tendencies’, but thinks the problem began to show when she got involved in endurance events later in life.

About five years ago, she went to see a GP about her eating disorder after two ’brilliant’ colleagues sat her down and urged that she did.

’My standard of work had gone terrible by then.

’They never threatened to fire me, but it scared me enough to do something about it,’ she said.

’Looking at it, I was an absolute wreck.

’It was hard to focus, I had heart palpitations, I was constantly cold and I had really bad digestive problems.

’My nails had crumbled away and are only just starting to come back.

’Despite all of this I would still go out and run 10 miles.

’The whole time you’re consumed with thinking about how you’re not going to eat, where the food’s going to come from, how you’re going to distract yourself from it...’

She is very grateful that her colleagues supported her through the difficult first step of admitting she had anorexia and afterwards.

’I’m feeling very remorseful for all the time and years I’ve wasted,’ she said.

’I was observing life but not being a part of it.

’Things are now much more vivid. I am able to relax and being in times like this I can stop and pick shells off the beach, which I wouldn’t have been able to do before.’

Her first proper attempt at recovery was three years ago.

’I’m far from being completely re-wired. I still have damaging habits and need to learn how to eat and exercise intuitively,’ she said.

She believes that if the lockdown had happened in earlier years it would have affected her badly, as it would be easier to come up with excuses on why she shouldn’t eat much due to being stuck inside all day.

With social distancing measures and being encouraged to exercise away from others this would have prompted her to go somewhere isolated for more strenuous exercises.

’At the same time you’re being bombarded with all these home workouts and fitness videos. It’s like permission to do all these things,’ she said.

’Your mind interprets all these as "let’s do something physical" and before you know it you’ve been exercising all day.’

Before the pandemic, she would wander up and down supermarket aisles comparing the different products. However, now people must abide by one way systems in shops.

She said: ’You have to keep moving and you make excuses like "I could have done with some cheese, but I’ve gone past that now".’

Being in your own home away from colleagues and other people means that those with eating disorders are modelling their own ’normality’ rather than see people dipping in to the staff biscuit tin, she said.

Her advice is to be accountable to somebody and let them know that there will be times that you are going to act defensive and snap at them and be deceitful to them.

’It’s about acknowledging it, getting professional help and being kind to yourself,’ she said.

’You’re not going to turn it around in a day.’

The DoND and MHS continues to offer support and advice for existing clients and new referrals.

Due to the current restrictions, this is mainly provided by telephone however we will see individuals face-to-face if necessary.

If someone is struggling with an eating disorder, they can contact their GP who can refer on to the appropriate services for further support.