Table 5 The factors that influence the food-body relationship in athletes through COVID-19 and in more generalised athletic transitions
| COVID-19 Specific Transitions | Generalised Athletic Transitions |
|---|---|
|
▪ Changes to physical environment ▪ Increased comparison through social media ▪ Changes to food security; including panic buying and fluctuating food access ▪ Boredom eating ▪ Reduced access to physical activity; including access to facilities or time allowed outside due to lockdowns |
▪ Increased body preoccupation ▪ Attempts to control food as a surrogate to control life changes ▪ Changes to appetite ▪ Reduced training and physical exercise ▪ Routine and lifestyle changes ▪ Body composition changes; including changes to muscle mass and fat percentage ▪ Altered mental health state; including a change to identify and self-perception ▪ Loss of motivation or direction |