my pandemic body-how Covid-related anxiety, social isolation and restrictions have redefined my relationship with food and my body.

Issy Stephenson discusses the unexpected effects the Covid-19 pandemic has had upon her self-image and her attitude to food, from the perspective of someone who had not struggled with negative body image prior to the first lockdown. She writes how social isolation and disordered eating are interrelated, and argues that it is crucial we open up a dialogue about the ways in which our mental health has been impacted by the pandemic. (image: Josie Devine)