The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating disorders in U.S. military veterans.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on mental health, including eating disorders (EDs). We found that early pandemic mental health symptoms were significantly associated with changes in U.S. veterans' ED diagnostic status 1 year later. Mental health symptoms increased ED diagnoses via their impact on social and health satisfaction, as well as physical health impacts of the pandemic. Findings highlight the importance of increasing social connection, health-promoting behaviors, and ED treatment access among veteran men and women, who may be particularly vulnerable to EDs, during the COVID pandemic.