Has COVID-19 Changed the Lifestyle and Dietary Habits in the Spanish Population after Confinement?

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Mediterranean diet adherence: A narrative systematic review

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic upended many aspects of daily life. For some individuals, this was an opportunity to re-evaluate their life and make better choices, while others were overwhelmed with stressors, leading to a deterioration in mental and physical health.

AIM

The aim of this narrative systematic review is to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Mediterranean diet adherence.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was carried out on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science electronic databases utilising the search terms 'Mediterranean diet' AND 'COVID-19'. This yielded 73 articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

The data suggests that a substantial proportion of individuals adhered less to the Mediterranean diet during the COVID-19 lockdown period. However, individuals receiving some form of lifestyle intervention had better adherence to the Mediterranean diet than their unassisted counterparts.

CONCLUSION

This emphasises the importance of professional support during times of crisis to avoid deterioration of a population's health.

Changes in food purchase, consumption and handling during COVID-19 pandemic among single person households

OBJECTIVE

As a new type of consumer subject in the market that was formerly dominated by multiple person families, single households are driving the change in the buying structure. Food purchase activities have undergone significant changes since the outbreak of the COVID-19. The objective of this study was to assess and compare variations in food consumption, purchase and handling during the COVID-19 pandemic between single person households (SPH) and multiple person households.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study conducted among 211 individuals in communities in Harris and Waller Counties, Texas. Sociodemographic, food purchase, food consumption and food handling activities during the COVID-19 pandemic were assessed with a validated COVID-19 Nutrition questionnaire.

RESULTS

Non-Hispanic Black participants constituted 42.6%, and 28.4% were Hispanics. Participants were made up of mostly aged 18-24 years (39.3%), 47.9% single household composition, 30.4% in full time employment, and 29.1% partook in food assistance programs. A large proportion of them had never used grocery pickup services, online grocery shopping and a farmers' market. During the COVID-19 pandemic, majority of the participants used more of large supermarkets, restaurant/fast food, and online grocery but food consumption seemed to remain the same for the majority of participants. For beverages, majority of participants consumed more water, less soda, and no alcohol. There was a significant association between single person household and higher restaurant/fast foods purchase. Many of the participants reported weight gain and less physical activity during the pandemic.

CONCLUSION

Restaurant meal purchases was more prevalent in single-person families. The results from the study have the potential to contribute to how public policy officials, food service, and health authorities forecast how different categories of consumers will react in pandemics and may be used to inform area-specific alleviation strategies to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and future events.

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Patient Changes during the COVID-19 Quarantine

Background and Objective: To examine the effects of the lockdown on diet adherence and stress levels in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Materials and Methods: Patients with a positive LPR diagnosis at the hypopharyngeal-esophageal impedance-pH monitoring were treated from a pre- to lockdown period with a 3-month high-protein, low-fat, alkaline, plant-based diet, with behavioral changes, and an association of pantoprazole (20 MG/d) and alginate (Gaviscon 3/d). The following patient-reported outcomes questionnaire and findings instrument were used: Reflux Symptom Score-12 (RSS-12) and Reflux Sign Assessment (RSA). At the posttreatment time, patients were invited to evaluate the impact of lockdown on diet adherence and stress management with a predefined grid of foods and beverages and the perceived stress scale (PSS), respectively. Results: Thirty-two patients completed the evaluations. RSS-12 and RSA significantly improved from baseline to 3-month posttreatment. Most patients experienced mild-to-severe stress levels at the end of the lockdown. The level of stress substantially increased in 11 patients (34%) due to the lockdown, while it did not change in 11 patients (44%). In 11 cases (34%), patients reported that the adherence to the anti-reflux diet was better than initially presumed thanks to the lockdown period, while 44% (N = 14) reported that the lockdown did not impact the adherence to a diet. PSS and RSS-12 were significantly correlated at the end of the pandemic (rs = 0.681; p < 0.001). The increase in stress level was positively associated with the lack of adherence to diet (rs = 0.367; p = 0.039). Conclusions: During the lockdown, the diet habits of LPR patients were improved in one-third and unchanged in 44% of cases. The stress level was increased in one-third of patients, which was associated with an increase in symptom scores.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Stress and Diet Adherence in Patients with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Objectives:To study the impact of lockdown on diet adherence and stress in patients treated for laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Methods:Patients with a positive LPR diagnosis at the hypopharyngeal-esophageal impedance-pH monitoring were treated from the pre- to lockdown period with diet, behavioral changes and an association of proton pump inhibitors and alginate. The following outcomes were used to assess the clinical features of patients: reflux symptom score-12 (RSS-12) and reflux sign assessment (RSA). At post-treatment time, patients were invited to evaluate the impact of lockdown on diet adherence and stress management with a predefined grid of foods and beverages and perceived stress scale (PSS), respectively. Results:Thirty-two patients completed the evaluations. RSS-12 and RSA significantly improved from baseline to three-month post-treatment. Most patients experienced mild-to-severe stress level at the end of the lockdown. The level of stress substantially increased in 34% of patients due to lockdown, while it did not change in 44%. In 34% of cases, patients reported that adherence to antireflux diet was better than initially presumed thanks to the lockdown period, while 44% believed that the lockdown did not impact their adherence to diet. PSS and RSS-12 were significantly correlated at the end of the pandemic (p<0.001). The increase of stress level was positively associated with the lack of adherence to diet (p=0.039). Conclusion:During the lockdown, diet habits were improved or unchanged in most LPR cases, while stress level was increased in one-third of patients.

Association between Dietary Habits, Food Attitudes, and Food Security Status of US Adults since March 2020: A Cross-Sectional Online Study

Since COVID-19, global reports indicate changes in dietary habits and food security status of the population. As a follow-up to an earlier study conducted in 2020, the purpose of this online cross-sectional study was to examine food security and food attitudes and their subsequent impact on dietary habits since March 2020 and potential associations with demographics, health characteristics and lifestyle habits on dietary habits. Participants (n = 2036) responded to a 71-item online survey conducted between February−March 2022. Frequency counts and percentages were tabulated, and multivariate linear regressions were conducted to examine associations. Results showed that most participants indicated no change in dietary habits (45.9−88.8%) for the listed food and beverage items. A significant positive association for food attitudes scores (1.11, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.29; p < 0.001) and food security scores (0.53, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.71; p < 0.001) on total dietary habits was found. Further, significant positive associations were seen with various health characteristics such as medical conditions (p = 0.01) and lifestyle habits such as preparing meals at home (p < 0.001). A negative association was observed with females on total dietary habits (p < 0.001). It is necessary to encourage adults in the US to maintain the positive dietary and lifestyle habits they acquired since March 2020 in their daily living. Future studies should investigate the impact these habits have on their health long-term and sustained positive dietary and lifestyle habits.

Change of Dietary and Lifestyle Habits during and after the COVID-19 Lockdown in Cyprus: An Analysis of Two Observational Studies

Background: People’s dietary and lifestyle habits appeared to be influenced by restrictive measures imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the differences in dietary and lifestyle habits during and after the lockdown measures in Cyprus. Methods: Two online cross-sectional surveys were conducted, using a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire to collect information on sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, smoking habits, physical activity, and dietary habits. The first survey was conducted between 6 April 2020 and 20 June 2020 (during national lockdown) while the second survey was conducted between 27 October 2021 and 20 January 2022 (post-lockdown). Results: A total of 2503 individuals participated in the study. A higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes/pulses, fish, and poultry was identified during lockdown compared to the period after the lockdown. Moreover, a greater daily intake of olive oil and a lower consumption of alcohol was found during the confinement period compared to the post-confinement period. During lockdown, most participants (43.0%) never or rarely used delivery services, while the largest proportion of the participants after lockdown used delivery services 1−3 times per month (37.0%) (p < 0.001). During lockdown, around 66% of the participants were physically active, compared to 55.5% after lockdown (p < 0.001). Furthermore, when compared to those with a normal BMI, more overweight and obese respondents ordered food 1−2 times per week in both periods (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Dietary and lifestyle habits of the participants were healthier throughout the lockdown period than after the end of the restrictive measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical to encourage the Cypriot population to maintain the healthy dietary and lifestyle habits established during the lockdown in their daily lives after the confinement.

Behavioral and Emotional Changes One Year after the First Lockdown Induced by COVID-19 in a French Adult Population

(1) Background: The lockdown had various consequences on physical activity and food consumption behaviors. The post-lockdown has been much less studied. The aim of this study is to compare behaviors one year after the first lockdown in a group of normal-weight (NW) or overweight French adults (OW). (2) Methods: Over a period of 4 days, both at the beginning of May 2020 (lockdown) and in June 2021 (free living post-lockdown), the same French adults used the WellBeNet smartphone application to record their sedentary behavior, physical activity (PA), food consumption and emotions. (3) Results: One year post first lockdown, the weight and body mass index increased (+1.1 kg; +0.4 kg.m−2, p < 0.01), and sedentary behaviors increased (+5.5%, p < 0.01) to the detriment of light-intensity activities (−3.3%, p = 0.10) in the whole group. Some food categories, such as alcohol, tended to be consumed more (+0.15 portion/day, p = 0.09), while fatty, salty and sugary products decreased (−0.25 portion/d, p = 0.02) but without a change in the food balance score. A higher number of both positive and negative emotions were scored per day (+9.5, p < 0.0001; +2.9, p = 0.03), and the positive ones were perceived stronger (+0.23, p = 0.09). Simultaneously, the desire to eat was lower (−11.6/100, p < 0.0001), and the desire to move remained constant. Sedentary/active behaviors and the desire to eat changed differently in NW and OW adults after the lockdown. (4) Conclusions: In general, the post-lockdown period was less favorable for physical activity practice and resulted in a similar food balance score but was more conducive to mental wellbeing.