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. 2020 Jul 19;12(7):2152.
doi: 10.3390/nu12072152.

Psychological Aspects and Eating Habits during COVID-19 Home Confinement: Results of EHLC-COVID-19 Italian Online Survey

Laura Di Renzo  1 , Paola Gualtieri  1 , Giulia Cinelli  2   3 , Giulia Bigioni  4 , Laura Soldati  5 , Alda Attinà  2 , Francesca Fabiola Bianco  2 , Giovanna Caparello  2 , Vanessa Camodeca  2 , Elena Carrano  2 , Simona Ferraro  2 , Silvia Giannattasio  2 , Claudia Leggeri  2 , Tiziana Rampello  2 , Laura Lo Presti  6 , Maria Grazia Tarsitano  7 , Antonino De Lorenzo  1
Affiliations

Psychological Aspects and Eating Habits during COVID-19 Home Confinement: Results of EHLC-COVID-19 Italian Online Survey

Laura Di Renzo et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the population with consequences on lifestyles. The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between eating habits, mental and emotional mood. A survey was conducted online during social isolation, from 24 April to 18 May 2020, among the Italian population. A total of 602 interviewees were included in the data analysis. A high percentage of respondents experienced a depressed mood, anxious feelings, hypochondria and insomnia (61.3%, 70.4%, 46.2% and 52.2%). Almost half of the respondents felt anxious due to the fact of their eating habits, consumed comfort food and were inclined to increase food intake to feel better. Age was inversely related to dietary control (OR = 0.971, p = 0.005). Females were more anxious and disposed to comfort food than males (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). A strength of our study was represented by the fact that the survey was conducted quickly during the most critical period of the Italian epidemic lockdown. As the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, our data need to be confirmed and investigated in the future with larger population studies.

Keywords: COVID-19; SarsCoV2; eating behaviours; emotional eating; lifestyle; lockdown; psychological effects.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure A1
Figure A1
Geographical distribution of COVID-19 total positive cases in Italy on 18 May 2020. Data derived from the Health Ministry of Italy [44].
Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of positive answers to the questions extrapolated from the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale about depressed mood, anxious feelings, the physical manifestations of anxiety (tachycardia, headache, sweating), hypochondria, tension and fatigability (on alert, ready to cry, trembling, restless, unable to relax), breathing difficulties (sighing, choking sensation, chest pressure, dyspnoea), tachycardia and feeling faint (palpitation, chest pain), use of drugs and supplementation for anxious mood. The figure also includes the percentage of positive answers about insomnia.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentages of positive answers to questions related to the emotional state during the COVID-19 emergency, in males and females. A Chi-square analysis was performed to compare male and female percentages. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percentage of positive answers to the questions about emotional eating behaviour. * Questions extrapolated from the Yale Food Addiction Scale.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Percentages of positive answers to questions related to the emotional eating behaviour during the COVID-19 emergency in males and females. A Chi-square analysis was performed to compare male and female percentages. ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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