COVID-19 pandemic disease adversely affects eating behavior

Researchers in Germany and Belgium have conducted a study showing some of the negative effects of pandemic disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on people’s eating habits.

Overall, the study, which included nearly 1,000 participants, showed that food consumption had increased, along with the purchase of convenience foods such as ready meals and food in cans with shelf life. no longer.

The study by the Lower Saxony State Food Industry Association (LI Food) also showed that consumption of alcohol and sweets had gone up. In contrast, the level of fruit and vegetables had declined.

Moreover, the findings indicate that families who have suffered a loss of income as a result of the pandemic are particularly prone to adopting the less healthy habits.

Adriano Profeta of the German Institute of Food Technologies in Quakenbrück and his colleagues warn that as the pandemic continues, severe locks and school closures are expected to have a major impact health in the medium term, especially among households with income-related pandemic loss.

The team also suggests steps that politicians and stakeholders could take to help counteract negative developments.

The first draft of the research paper can be found on the Preprints * server, while the article is subject to peer review.

COVID-19 mitigation measures have affected daily life worldwide

The restrictions imposed by many countries to help reduce the pandemic of COVID-19 have affected the daily lives of millions of people worldwide.

One important factor is the impact on shopping habits and, respectively, eating behavior. The quarantine potential has led to concerns about the type and quantity of foods that can be stored, and, in some cases, “stockless” conditions have led to “panic buying” of some items.

The psychological effects of the pandemic can affect shopping and eating behavior. Studies have shown that weights such as weight loss associated with pandemics can lead to “comfortable eating.” Fear of infection can also lead to less frequent purchases and the purchase of foods with a longer shelf life.

What did the researchers do?

The team conducted an online survey of 973 people living in Germany in April 2020 to find out how COVID-19 pandemics affected food consumption, shopping behavior and eating habits in the country.

Between the 22nd^nd and 27^th in April, participants were asked about their eating, shopping and cooking habits before and during the pandemic.

What did they find?

Of all participants surveyed, about a fifth (20.5%) reported consuming more food in their homes during the pandemic and nearly a third (31.4%) said they had they gather more food.

The overall increase in food consumption appeared to be driven mainly by families with children and loss of income associated with pandemic.

Among households without children or loss of income, food consumption increased less than it did among families with children and loss of income.

In households with children and limited budgets due to loss of income, calorie intake was significantly higher, with a stronger trend toward consuming less healthy foods.

New products replacing more convenient but unhealthy foods

The study also showed an overall reduction in consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables and an overall increase in consumption of canned foods, ready meals, sweets and alcohol.

“Therefore, new products were likely to be partially replaced by more processed, sustainable products (convenience) or relatively unhealthy foods (sugars, alcohol),” wrote the reporters. research.

Again, when different house categories were analyzed, it was families with children and loss of income that were most affected.

Among households with children and loss of income, 17.7% reported eating less fruit and vegetables, compared to just 10.8% of households with children, but no loss of income.

For the finished food sector, 28.3% of households with children and loss of income reported higher consumption, compared to just 16.6% of households with children, but no loss of income.

In addition, alcohol consumption increased in 21.2% of households with children and loss of income, but among families without children or loss of income, it increased by only 11.5%.

Families with a financial impact represent a vulnerable group

“The findings show that families financially affected by the pandemic represent a vulnerable group,” wrote Profeta and the team.

“With the ongoing period of pandemics, re-locks, school closures and corona-related nurseries, serious adverse health effects are expected in the medium term, particularly for this population group,” they warn.

The researchers suggest some steps that politicians and other stakeholders can take to help counteract these negative effects of the pandemic.

For example, they advise schools and nurseries to be kept open as long as possible as food planning can have a positive effect on children’s nutrition.

The team also recommends increasing the quality of community provision for children by changing the caloric content of food choices for children’s age groups.

* Important message

Preprints publish preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be seen as final, guiding health-related clinical practice / behavior, or be treated as information established.