An Italian Survey on Dietary Habits and Changes during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Abstract

The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern; the outbreak has led to lockdowns in several parts of the world, and sudden changes in people's lifestyles. This study explores the impact of the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period on dietary habits, lifestyle changes, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among the Italian population, through an online questionnaire, conducted from April to May 2020, involving 1519 participants. The 14-point Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) highlighted a medium Mediterranean diet adherence in 73.5% of responders, which principally included the younger population, aged 18-30 years (p < 0.05). In regards to changes in eating habits, 33.5% of responders declared an influence of the pandemic period on nutritional practice. A decrease in alcohol consumption was reported by 81% of responders, while an increase in frozen food consumption was reported by 81.3% of responders. In addition, 58.8% reported positive weight modification (40.8%, +1-3 kg); physical activity reduction was reported for 70.5% of responders. Our study contributes toward amplifying the investigation on the dietary habits and changes of the Italian population during the COVID-19 lockdown, although the pandemic is ongoing. Similar studies should be performed around the world to understand how the emergency has impacted people's habits.

Keywords: COVID-19; MEDAS score; Mediterranean diet adherence; coronavirus; dietary habits and changes.

Figure 1

Cumulative incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections by Italian Region (data upload 17 January, 2021). The different colors indicate the density of ascertained cases: dark blue corresponds to a maximum level of contagion, and light blue, a minimum level of contagion.

Figure 2

Violin plots created with JASP (www.jasp-stats.org, accessed on 20 January 2021), distinguishing between four different age groups (1 = 0–17; 2 = 18–30; 3 = 31–55; 4 = >55) within (A) breakfast consumption (1 = daily; 2 = often; 3 = sometimes; 4 = rarely; 5 = never); (B) frozen food intake (1 = yes; 2 = no); (C) cooking types (1 = steam; 2 = oven; 3 = griddle; 4 = frying; 5 = microwave); (D) water intake (1 = yes; 2 = no); (E) alcohol increase consumption in respect to pre-Covid-19 period (1 = yes; 2 = no; 3 = no variation); (F) physical activity practice (1 = yes; 2 = no).

Figure 3

Scatter plots created with JASP (www.jasp-stats.org, accessed on 20 January 2021). (A) The x-axis eating habits, y-axis weight changes (%); (B) x-axis educational level, y-axis weight changes (%). The lines for the relation between eating habits and weight changes (%) are different for female participants (1●), and male participants (2●). The relation between educational level and weight changes (%) is flat for both the genders. Eating habits is for the percentage variation of individual eating habits induced by the lockdown (1 = 0–5%; 2 = 5–20%; 3 = 20–50%; 4) 50–80%; 5 = > 80%); three educational levels were considered (1 = secondary school certificate; 2 = high school diploma; 3 = degree-master-PhD); weight changes were as follows: 1 = ↑1–3 kg; 2 = ↑3–7 kg; 3 = ↑>8 kg; 4 = ↓1–3 kg; 5 = ↓3–5 kg; 6 = ↓>6 kg; 7 = no variation).