More than two years after the first lockdown due to Covid-19, we are noticing and accepting different ways in which the pandemic has impacted us. Recent studies, including one published in European Psychiatry, show how the pandemic increased risks of Eating Disorders (ED) and increased barriers to accessing treatment. They take into concern the impact of isolation, the need for control and emotional regulation, as well as the impact of increased concerns and conversations around health and fitness. Still, there is a lack of research on EDs, especially in the country.

India-based NGO Freed, established a year and a half ago, was launched with a mission to start conversations around EDs in India. Delhi-based founder Kamakshi Malhotra notes that EDs are mental health concerns that thrive in isolation which the pandemic would have accelerated or worsened. “Our vision is to empower people to accept and respect their bodies as they are. We are not asking people to avoid thinking about their health. But talking about weight and appearance in a certain way can be more detrimental than beneficial,” Malhotra notes.