A dietitian who services western NSW has seen an increase in eating disorder presentations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Dietitian Helen Barnett with the Macquarie Health Collective has clients across the region, including at Dubbo, Nyngan, Coonabarabran and Warren.
As well as working at the Macquarie Health Collective, Ms Barnett also sees patients at nursing homes in Dubbo. The dietitian said with the emergence of COVID-19, she has seen an increase in eating disorder presentations.
"I'm seeing so many more eating disorder presentations just because of the way COVID has unfolded," she said. "A lot of people who had underlying eating disorders are really struggling with food."
Ms Barnett said when the pandemic started and shoppers were panic buying, it resulted in a lot of stress for those suffering from anorexia or body image issues.
"The closure of gyms has really unsettle people who are very strict about exercising, plus the isolation at home has really made those with a binge eating disorder unsettled... they're triggered to eat more, but then don't have an outlet," she added.
She specialises in eating disorders and gastrointestinal problems, and said it is hard for patients seeking support for that because there is limited allied health services in rural NSW. But one of the ways Ms Barnett is helping to bridge the rural health gap for is through telehealth
"While there many dietitians in the region, being able to provide specialist dietetic support to people in the greater western region by telelhealth, I think is a real benefit," Ms Barnett said.
The practice of dietetics and telehealth is well suited, Ms Barnett said explaining that it is an educational modality. "You're checking in and talking about coping with food so it can work really well," she said.
While providing telehealth to patients is something Ms Barnett has become quite comfortable with, she said she enjoys seeing patients face-to-face to build a good rapport, but understands the service is beneficial for those who have to travel long distances.
"To have that service and connection over telehealth means there's no disruption or cost to travel, or accommodation costs," Ms Barnett said.
"Or if you're transporting a sick child there is much less disruption on the family as a whole. So the satisfaction of people is generally high, if not higher, with telehealth services."
