Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food and drink consumption and related factors: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: The lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused several lifestyle changes. Aim: This scoping review aimed to report the present status of studies conducted on changes and factors related to food and drink consumption worldwide. Methods: Searches were performed in PubMed and EBSCO between August 6 and August 22, 2020 using the following criteria: (1) studies reporting changes in the current individual consumption of specific foods and snacks compared to that before the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) participants aged 18 years or older and without any diagnosable disease; and (3) articles that are peer-reviewed publications available in English. Studies were excluded if they involved an intervention related to diet or investigated the change in COVID-19 incidence. Results: Twelve articles were included in this review. The included studies revealed that there were various changes in food and drink consumption, such as the frequency and amount of consumption of snacks (n = 9), alcohol (n = 7), and vegetables and fruits (n = 5). These changes showed both increasing and decreasing trends. Of the 12 studies, 10 reported factors related to dietary changes, such as age, body mass index, psychological conditions, and residence; however, most of the results regarding these factors were inconsistent. Conclusions: Future studies should investigate long-term dietary changes and examine the factors that influence these changes to determine the pandemic's long-term impact.

Keywords: COVID-19; factors; food consumption; lockdown; scoping review.

Figure 1.

Flow diagram illustrating the study selection process.