Eating Habits during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy: The Nutritional and Lifestyle Side Effects of the Pandemic

To limit the spread of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, a nationwide lockdown started in Italy in March 2020. In this unpredictable situation, a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire was carried out by the Observatory on Food Surplus, Recovery and Waste of CREA Food and Nutrition Centre. The aim of this work was to evaluate how Italian habits changed during this period, the determinants of changes, and the effect on food waste prevention. In a sample of 2678 respondents, 62% showed low Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (AMD). During lockdown many of participants improved the quality of their diet, increasing their consumption of fruit (24.4%), vegetables (28.5%), legumes (22.1%), nuts (12%), and fish or shellfish (14%). Unfavorable changes were observed with the excessive consumption of sweets or pastries (36.9%) and comfort foods (22.7%), and a lack of physical activity (37.2%). The main novelty of this study was the examination of dietary changes identified by a cluster analysis. Respondents with generally high AMD improved their eating habits, while the habits of the respondents with generally low AMD remained unchanged. In addition, nearly 80% of respondents were sensitive to food waste. The study provides a useful contribution to the debate on nutritional recommendations in case of further lockdown.

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Adherence to Therapy, Physical and Mental Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Journal of Personalized Medicine ◽

10.3390/jpm11070672 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 672

Author(s):

Alessandra Buja ◽

Guendalina Graffigna ◽

Simona F. Mafrici ◽

Tatjana Baldovin ◽

Carlo Pinato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Behavioral Interventions ◽

Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Index ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Adherence To Therapy

Ensuring multiple sclerosis (MS) patients’ adherence to therapy is often challenging, but it is crucial to their survival and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of the present study was to outline connections between adherence, physical and mental HRQoL, levels of psychological readiness to engage in a treatment, levels of social support, anthropometric, socio-demographic and clinical factors in patients suffering from MS. This cross-sectional study involved a sample of 237 Italian MS patients. A survey was conducted with a structured self-administered online questionnaire using validated measures of quality of life, adherence to therapy and anthropometric, socio-demographic, psychological and clinical variables. A path analysis was used to test the overall structure of the associations between the variables. The pathway indicates a positive association between mental health index and a stronger degree of engagement and being or having been in a long-term relationship. Physical health index was positively associated with age, having an occupation, and having a specific form of MS. Having had relapses in the previous year raised the odds of better adherence to therapy, while an increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) reduced them. Our findings could help in the management of MS patients, promoting behavioral interventions that take the psychological and socio-demographic peculiarities of each patient into account with a view to improving their adherence to therapy.

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Food Waste and Its Association with Diet Quality of Foods Purchased in South Florida

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13082535 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 2535

Author(s):

Vanessa Mijares ◽

Jair Alcivar ◽

Cristina Palacios

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

South Florida ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Grocery Stores ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Grocery Purchase

The objective of this study was to explore the associations between food waste and the diet quality of foods purchased and with grocery purchasing behaviors. This was a cross-sectional study among 109 primary household food providers conducting primary shopping. Participants were recruited outside of local grocery stores and were asked to complete a survey assessing amounts of avoidable food waste and grocery purchasing behaviors. The diet quality of the foods purchased was assessed from grocery receipts using the Grocery Purchase Quality Index-2016 (GPQI-2016). Variables were associated using linear regression, analysis of covariance, and point biserial correlations. We found that fresh fruits (63%) and leafy greens (70%) were the foods that were the most wasted. The GPQI-2016 total score was significantly inversely associated with the total amount of food wasted (β = −0.63; 95% CI: −1.14,−0.12) after adjusting for important confounders. The reason “food past the date printed on the package” was directly correlated with food wasted (r = 0.40; p < 0.01) but inversely correlated with GPQI-2016 score (r = −0.21; p = 0.04). Food wasted, but not the GPQI-2016 score, was significantly higher among those who grocery shop 2–4 times per week compared to 1 time every 1–2 weeks (p = 0.02). In conclusion, food waste is inversely associated with diet quality and directly associated with grocery purchasing frequency.

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Association between sexuality and quality of life in older adults

Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP ◽

10.1590/1980-220x-reeusp-2020-0066 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 55 ◽

Author(s):

Edison Vitório de Souza Júnior ◽

Diego Pires Cruz ◽

Cristiane dos Santos Silva ◽

Randson Souza Rosa ◽

Gabriele da Silva Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Educational Interventions ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Training Development ◽

Regression Tests

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the association between the experiences of sexuality and quality of life in older adults. Method: Cross-sectional study developed with a total of 300 older adults living in northeastern Brazil. Data collection was carried out entirely online between August and October 2020. Participants completed the online questionnaire containing three instruments for assessing bio sociodemographic data, sexuality and quality of life. Data analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman correlation and multivariate linear regression tests, adopting a 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05). Results: Older adults experience better affective relationships and have better quality of life in sensory abilities and intimacy. In the regression analysis, only affective relationships (β = 0.510; [95% CI: 0.340–0.682]; p < 0.001) and physical and social adversities (β = −0.180; [95% CI:−1.443–0.434]; p < 0.001) remained associated with the general quality of life of older adults. Conclusion: Health professionals must invest in training, development of individual and group educational interventions, in addition to promoting the strengthening of bonds between older adults so that they feel free and comfort in expressing their intimate needs.

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Family farming products on menus in school feeding: a partnership for promoting healthy eating

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20150214 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (12) ◽

pp. 2267-2273 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Hélida Ventura Barbosa Gonçalves ◽

Diogo Thimoteo da Cunha ◽

Elke Stedefeldt ◽

Veridiana Vera de Rosso

Keyword(s):

Healthy Eating ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Family Farming ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

School Feeding ◽

Before And After ◽

Healthy Eating Habits ◽

Feeding Program

The aim of this study was to characterize the process of buying Family Farming (FF) food for the Brazilian School Feeding Program (BSFP) and compare the quality of menus served to the schoolchildren before and after the implementation of Law n. 11,947/09. This is an observational cross-sectional study developed with application of semi-structured questionnaire and evaluating menus. Eighty-two cities from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil participated of the study. Of these cities reported, 74.1% performed the purchase of products of FF for BSFP. The lack of interest of farmers and the deficient hygienic and sanitary conditions were the main difficulties reported. The quality of the menus offered to the schoolchildren improved significantly after the implementation of FF purchases. The partnership between FF and BSFP can contribute greatly to the development of healthy eating habits, not only by offering better nutritional quality menus, but also by implementing of nutritional education activities guided by the sustainable production and consumption of food.

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Patient Evaluation of Food Waste in Three Hospitals in Southern Italy

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16224330 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (22) ◽

pp. 4330 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Schiavone ◽

Pelullo ◽

Attena

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Side Plate ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Campania Region ◽

Average Percentage ◽

Similar Patient

In recent years, food waste has received great attention and is now considered the cause of many negative effects, including health, economic, social and environmental issues. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 762 inpatients at three hospitals of Campania region in Italy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the amount of food waste occurring in these hospitals using a structured questionnaire and asking inpatients about the average percentage of food they had disposed of in the previous three days. The overall food wasted amounted to 41.6%. The main plates, first (pasta or rice), second plate (meat or fish), resulted in similar amounts of waste (38.5% and 39.7%, respectively). The side plate (vegetable or potatoes), however, generated the greatest amount of waste (55.0%); 40.7% of patients totally discarded this part of their meals. The type of food wastage among the three hospitals reflected similar patient behaviours, with the amount of food wasted never falling below 30%. Females tended to waste more food than males (59.1% vs. 38.2%; p = 0.000). Other variables were correlated with less food waste, such as having a good opinion of the food’s quality (RR = 1.91; 95% C.I. = 1.68–2.17) and satisfaction with the foodservice in general (RR = 1.86; 95% C.I. = 1.64–2.10). Poor quality, different eating habits and the feeling of satiety were the main reasons patients gave for food waste. Our study suggests that the most promising way to reduce food waste in hospitals is to improve the quality of meals and to establish an individual, simplified and flexible meal reservation process based on specific needs and preferences.

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Women’s Quality of Life at 6 Weeks Postpartum: Influence of the Discomfort Present in the Puerperium

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16020253 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 253 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Juan Martínez-Galiano ◽

Antonio Hernández-Martínez ◽

Julián Rodríguez-Almagro ◽

Miguel Delgado-Rodríguez ◽

Ana Rubio-Alvarez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Postnatal Period ◽

Study Data ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Postpartum Woman ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional

Background: Discomfort during the puerperium period is very frequent in the lives of women but the influence of this discomfort on the women’s quality of life has been little studied. The objective of this study is to establish the association between discomfort and frequent problems of women in the puerperium and their quality of life score. Methods: A cross-sectional study on postpartum Spanish women was performed. Women older than 18 years and who had had a live birth were included. Less than 1% of women refused to participate in the study. Data were collected on socio-demographic, obstetric and newborn variables, on maternal problems/ discomfort in the postnatal period and on parameters that are quality of life indicators. An ad hoc online questionnaire which included the SF-36 Health Survey was used. Crude mean difference (cMD) and adjusted mean difference (aMD) were calculated through multiple linear regression. Results: 2990 women participated in the study. The greater problems causing quality of life loss were depressive symptoms (aMD = −12.40, CI 95%: −10.79, −14.01), lactation problems (aMD = −4.30, CI 95%: −2.97, −5.63), problems for sexual intercourse after childbirth (aMD = −6.34, CI 95%: −5.07, −7.60) and urinary incontinence (aMD = −4.97, CI 95%: −6.30, −3.65), among others. These have been detected as risk factors that affect the quality of life of the postpartum woman. Conclusions: The discomfort and problems manifested in the 6 weeks after childbirth have an influence that deeply affects the quality of life of postpartum women.

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Quality of Life, Needs and Fears of Mothers of Children with Disabilities in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Lockdown

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182111442 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (21) ◽

pp. 11442

Author(s):

Nisreen Al Awaji ◽

Monira Aldhahi ◽

Shahnaz Akil ◽

Salwa Awad ◽

Eman Mortada

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Children With Disabilities ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Raising Children ◽

The Social

Substantial changes in life dynamics resulting from the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could have an impact on the quality of life (QoL) of mothers of children with and without disabilities. This study compared the quality of life (QoL) of mothers of children with disabilities (MCD) to the QoL of mothers of children without disabilities (CON) in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19 lockdown. It explored mothers’ concerns and the type of support they need during the quarantine. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted during the lockdown. An online questionnaire was distributed to mothers raising children with and without disabilities in Saudi Arabia. A total of 340 mothers participated in the study by completing the survey: 93 MCD and 247 CON. The QoL of MCD and CON was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Furthermore, detailed information was provided by the mothers regarding their needs and concerns during the lockdown. The results of the study revealed that the overall QoL was significantly higher in the CON group, compared to the MCD group, during the COVID-19 lockdown. The social well-being and environmental well-being reported by MCD were significantly lower on the total scale of the WHOQOL-BREF than those reported by the CON group. The comparison between the two groups revealed significant differences in the support required by mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a higher percentage of MCD needed emotional and psychological support, especially from family members. The major concerns reported by MCD were the deterioration of their children’s medical conditions and the lack of medical supplies during the lockdown.

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Association of Differences in Dietary Behaviours and Lifestyle with Self-Reported Weight Gain during the COVID-19 Lockdown in a University Community from Chile: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13093213 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 3213

Author(s):

Addi Rhode Navarro-Cruz ◽

Ashuin Kammar-García ◽

Javier Mancilla-Galindo ◽

Gladys Quezada-Figueroa ◽

Mariana Tlalpa-Prisco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Food Groups ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dietary Behaviours ◽

The Impact ◽

University Community

Domiciliary confinement of people is one of the main strategies to limit the impact of COVID-19. Lockdowns have led to changes in lifestyle, emotional health, and eating habits. We aimed to evaluate the association of differences in dietary behaviours and lifestyle with self-reported weight gain during the COVID-19 lockdown in Chile. In this cross-sectional analytical study, five previously validated surveys were condensed into a single 86-item online questionnaire. The survey was sent to 1000 potential participants of the university community; it was kept online for 28 days to be answered. Of the 639 respondents, the mean self-reported weight gain during confinement was 1.99 kg (standard deviation [SE]: 0.17) and 0.7 (SE: 0.06) units of body mass index (BMI) (both p < 0.001) and the median difference in body weight during lockdown was 3.3% (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.0–6.7). The differences of intake of most food groups before and during lockdown were associated with greater self-reported weight, BMI and percentage weight gain. Differences in lifestyle (odds ratio [OR] = 14.21, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 2.35–85.82) worsening eating habits (OR = 3.43, 95%CI: 2.31–5.09), and more consumption of sweet or filled cookies and cakes during lockdown (OR = 2.11, 95%CI: 1.42–3.13) were associated with self-reported weight gain. In conclusion, different dietary behaviours (mainly consumption of industrialized foods) during lockdown, as well as quality of life deterioration were the main factors associated with self-reported weight gain during lockdown.

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ANALISIS JALUR FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMENGARUHI KEGEMUKAN BALITA DI KOTA DENPASAR TAHUN 2020

ARCHIVE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH ◽

10.24843/ach.2021.v08.i02.p10 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 343

Author(s):

Angela Yunita Tanggu Bore ◽

Desak Nyoman Widyanthini

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Path Analysis ◽

Screen Time ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Maternal Attitudes ◽

Children’S Behaviour

ABSTRAK Kota Denpasar memiliki prevalensi balita gemuk tertinggi di Bali, yaitu sebesar 10,5%. Balita gemuk berisiko menderita penyakit degenaratif ketika beranjak dewasa. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui faktorfaktor yang memengaruhi kegemukan balita di Kota Denpasar. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian survey analitik dengan rancangan cross-sectional study. Sampel penelitian adalah ibu yang memiliki bayi usia 24 – 59 bulan dan tinggal di Kota Denpasar sebanyak 120 sampel yang dipilih secara Convenient Sampling. Variabel yang diteliti yaitu aktivitas fisik, screen time, kebiasaan makan balita, pengetahuan dan sikap ibu yang dikumpulkan menggunakan kuesioner online dan dianalisis menggunakan analisis jalur. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa kegemukan balita secara langsung dipengaruhi kebiasaan makan dengan loading factor sebesar -0,096 dan secara tidak langsung dipengaruhi screen time melalui aktivitas fisik dengan loading factor sebesar -0,054; dan sikap ibu melalui screen time, aktivitas fisik, dan kebiasaan makan dengan loading factor sebesar 0,079. Aktivitas fisik balita menunjukkan loading factor terbesar, yaitu sebesar 0,214, tetapi tidak bermakna secara statistik. Pengetahuan ibu tidak memengaruhi kegemukan balita dengan loading factor sebesar -0,009. Upaya yang dapat dilakukan bagi orangtua adalah memperbaiki pemahaman mengenai screen time, kebiasaan makan, dan sikap ibu dalam menyikapi perilaku anaknya. Kata Kunci: Kegemukan Balita, Analisis Jalur, Aktivitas Fisik, Screen Time, Sikap Ibu ABSTRACT Denpasar City has the highest prevalence of toodler’s overweight in Bali, which is 10,5%. Toodlers with overweight are at risk of suffering from degenerative diseases when they grow up. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influencing toodler’s overweight in Denpasar City. This research is an analytic survey with cross-sectional study. Sample of this research is mothers who have babies aged 24-59 months and live in Denpasar City which is 120 sample that selected by Convenient Sampling. Variables of this research are physical activity, screen time, toddler’s eating habits, mother’s knowledge and attitudes which were collected using an online questionnaire and analyzed using path analysis. The result showed that overweight toddlers are directly affected by eating habits with loading factor 0,096 and indirectly affected by screen time through physical activity -0,054; eating habits through physical activity 0,096; and maternal attitudes through screen time, physical activity, and eating habits 0,079. Toddler’s physical activity provides the greatest loading factor which is 0,214, but not significant. Mother’s knowledge doesn’t affect toddler’s overweight with loading factor is -0,009. Parents are suggested to improve understanding of toddler’s screen time and eating habits, and mother’s attitude in responding to their children’s behaviour. Key Words: Toddlers Overweight, Path Analysis, Physical Activity, Screen Time, Mother’s Attitude

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Quality of life and eating habits of patients with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic

Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/1518-8345.5238.3502 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

Author(s):

Luciana Foppa ◽

Ana Laura Rodriguez da Mota ◽

Eliane Pinheiro de Morais

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

University Hospital ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Eating Habit ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cognitive Restraint ◽

General Quality

Objective: to verify the quality of life and eating habits of patients with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: cross-sectional study with 68 outpatients, candidates for bariatric surgery, at university hospital in the Southern Brazil. Data collection was carried out by telephone, with questions about the profile of the participants and social distancing; questionnaires on quality of life and eating habits were also used. The data analysis, the logistic regression model, Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney U and Student t-tests were used for independent samples. Results: the general quality of life was 57.03 points and the eating habit with the highest score was cognitive restraint (61.11 points). Most patients (72.1%) were socially distancing themselves and 27.9% had not changed their routine. The chance of isolation was 3.16 times greater for patients who were married. There is a positive correlation between the domains of the Quality of Life questionnaire and cognitive restraint from the questionnaire about eating habits. Conclusion: we found that the participants tended to have a better quality of life as cognitive restraint increased.

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