The results from two web surveys analysing the dietary habits of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alarm for cardiologists who will have to deal with unhealthy diets and physical inactivity
We eat more, and snacks and chocolate are all the rage, with the inevitable side effect of pushing the numbers up on the scales. These are the results of a web survey that analysed the eating habits of a sample of about 2,000 people who responded to a questionnaire published online by the University of Padua, Italy (1).
With all the limitations of investigations of this type, this study provides interesting insights into the eating habits of Italians at the time of the lockdown following the COVID-19 pandemic. While half of the sample reported that they did not substantially change their diet, a good proportion nevertheless reported that they ate more. Among the reasons for dietary changes, over 40% of respondents report reasons linked to anxiety and stress during the quarantine period, although a small percentage say they have had difficulty finding certain foods. Among the foods most consumed in the lockdown phase, there are sweets and snacks, known as ‘comfort food’, and this possibly explains the weight gain reported by about 20 percent of the sample.
Other interesting information on Italians and food during quarantine comes from the CREA survey, coordinated by Laura Rossi, researcher and member of the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, who photographed the habits of 2,900 people distributed throughout the country through an on-line questionnaire (2).
The data confirm a greater indulgence for sweet snacks and wine (44.5%) but also indicate an increase in consumption of some key foods of the Mediterranean diet, such as fruits and vegetables, which increased by about 30%, legumes (+ 26.5%) and olive oil (+ 21.5%). The CREA survey also shows a trend of increasing body weight, associated with higher food consumption and reduced levels of physical activity.
Finally, a study by the University of Molise in collaboration with the Censis Foundation of Rome, compared the purchase data over a period of six weeks (February-March 2020) with the same period of the previous year (3). Beyond recording a general increase in food spending (+ 16.7%), the survey documented an increase in the use of local stores and online shopping. The purchase of canned foods, pasta, long-life milk, eggs and frozen foods also increased compared to the previous year. Packaged meat, cured meats, biscuits and spreads were also increased. On the other hand, purchases of fresh fruit and vegetables fell down. Yeast and flours have registered a considerable increase (over 200%) possibly because of the rediscovery of an old passion for cooking during the quarantine.
The worsening of eating habits and lifestyles in general are of great concern to the scientific community, so much so that some researchers from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia have raised an alarm especially for cardiologists (4). A healthy diet and moderate physical activity for at least 150 minutes a week are crucial to heart health, the study authors note, and reducing these two healthy habits is likely to seriously compromise everyone's health.
Concern is also growing about a general deterioration in mental health, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is also affected by unhealthy diets and restrictions in exercise imposed by the lockdown. In short, the post-quarantine promises to be a particularly critical period that will put a strain on the entire national health sector.
Marialaura Bonaccio
IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS)
References
Scarmozzino F and Visioli F. Covid-19 and the Subsequent Lockdown Modified Dietary Habits of Almost Half the Population in an Italian Sample. Foods 2020, 9(5), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9050675
https://www.crea.gov.it/-/covid-19-come-sono-cambiate-le-nostre-abitudini-alimentari-durante-il-lockdown-
Bracale R and Vaccaro C. Changes in food choice following restrictive measures due to Covid-19. NMCD, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2020.05.027
Mattioli AV et al. COVID-19 pandemic: the effects of quarantine on cardiovascular risk. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2020) 74:852–855
The data confirm a greater indulgence for sweet snacks and wine (44.5%) but also indicate an increase in consumption of some key foods of the Mediterranean diet, such as fruits and vegetables, which increased by about 30%, legumes (+ 26.5%) and olive oil (+ 21.5%). The CREA survey also shows a trend of increasing body weight, associated with higher food consumption and reduced levels of physical activity.
Finally, a study by the University of Molise in collaboration with the Censis Foundation of Rome, compared the purchase data over a period of six weeks (February-March 2020) with the same period of the previous year (3). Beyond recording a general increase in food spending (+ 16.7%), the survey documented an increase in the use of local stores and online shopping. The purchase of canned foods, pasta, long-life milk, eggs and frozen foods also increased compared to the previous year. Packaged meat, cured meats, biscuits and spreads were also increased. On the other hand, purchases of fresh fruit and vegetables fell down. Yeast and flours have registered a considerable increase (over 200%) possibly because of the rediscovery of an old passion for cooking during the quarantine.
The worsening of eating habits and lifestyles in general are of great concern to the scientific community, so much so that some researchers from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia have raised an alarm especially for cardiologists (4). A healthy diet and moderate physical activity for at least 150 minutes a week are crucial to heart health, the study authors note, and reducing these two healthy habits is likely to seriously compromise everyone's health.
Concern is also growing about a general deterioration in mental health, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is also affected by unhealthy diets and restrictions in exercise imposed by the lockdown. In short, the post-quarantine promises to be a particularly critical period that will put a strain on the entire national health sector.
Marialaura Bonaccio
IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS)
References
Scarmozzino F and Visioli F. Covid-19 and the Subsequent Lockdown Modified Dietary Habits of Almost Half the Population in an Italian Sample. Foods 2020, 9(5), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9050675
https://www.crea.gov.it/-/covid-19-come-sono-cambiate-le-nostre-abitudini-alimentari-durante-il-lockdown-
Bracale R and Vaccaro C. Changes in food choice following restrictive measures due to Covid-19. NMCD, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2020.05.027
Mattioli AV et al. COVID-19 pandemic: the effects of quarantine on cardiovascular risk. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2020) 74:852–855