Assessment of Eating Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period. A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-73
Author(s):  
Ionel Nitu ◽  
Victoria Ancuta Rus ◽  
Remus Sebastian Sipos ◽  
Tiberiu Nyulas ◽  
Maria Paula Cherhat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Final Study ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background: In order to counter and control the spread of the new COVID-19 pandemic, at the beginning of March 2020, the Romanian government decided to apply strict isolation and quarantine measures. Objective: In the present study, we aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and isolation/quarantine at home on lifestyle and daily diet, and to identify changes caused by the pandemic related to the nutritional status and food preferences of the Romanian population. Material and Method: We conducted a prospective observational study based on a structured questionnaire that included 30 items for investigating multiple aspects regarding the dietary habits in the context of the pandemic, quarantine and social isolation imposed by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The questionnaire was disseminated on various online platforms accessible from any device with an internet connection in Romania, on social media groups between January and March 2021. The questionnaire was made online, using the Google Forms platform, this method being very useful for carrying out the proposed evaluation, as it facilitated the national dissemination of the evaluation questionnaire. The final study group consisted of 620 respondents from 35 counties of Romania. Results: Regarding weight status, we found that the respondents showed significantly more frequent weight fluctuations during the pandemic than before (p <0.0001). The results showed an increase in the mean weight of the respondents during the pandemic vs. their mean weight before (p = 0.04). In contrast, there were no statistically significant differences between the BMI calculated before and during the pandemic (p = 0.3). Respondents, who had a chaotic diet (40.64%) before the pandemic, became significantly more organized in this regard during the pandemic (35.96%) (p = 0.008). Conclusions: We can state that the pandemic period and isolation at home analyzed in terms of eating habits had positive consequences for about half of the study participants which adopted an organized, diversified eating behavior and balanced lifestyle.

scholarly journals Dietary Patterns and Weight Status in Italian Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 4039
Author(s):  
Benedetta Raspini ◽  
Margherita Prosperi ◽  
Letizia Guiducci ◽  
Elisa Santocchi ◽  
Raffaella Tancredi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Food Selectivity ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

Atypical eating habits are more common in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) than typically developing (TD) peers. Feeding problems may lead to the double burden of specific nutrient deficiencies and excessive weight gain, with a consequent increase in obesity prevalence. The dietary intake of Italian preschoolers with ASD compared to their TD peers and the impact of their dietary choices on their weight status and relationship to food selectivity (FS) were investigated. Dietary patterns and their associations with body mass index (BMI) were evaluated in 65 children with ASD and 82 peers with TD aged 1.3–6.4 years. Eating habits were assessed with a modified version of a parent-rated semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. Moreover, the prevalence of FS and possible links with dietary patterns and BMI were investigated in the ASD group. Children with ASD consumed significantly higher amounts of simple sugars, processed and ultra-processed carbohydrates, both low- and high-fat animal proteins, and lower amounts of vegetables and fruits compared to peers with TD. The obesity rate was 1.5% in children with TD and more than fourfold (6.2%) in children with ASD, although the difference between groups was not statistically significant. FS was significantly more frequent in children with ASD than in peers with TD. Children with ASD and FS showed significantly lower annual intakes of vegetable proteins and fiber (considered essential nutrients for a healthy diet) than children with ASD without FS. Our results showed that children with ASD showed different dietary habits than those with TD, with the higher consumption of energy-dense foods and lower amounts of food-sourced fibers, which could place them at increased risk to develop overweight, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies later in life.

scholarly journals Body Mass, Physical Activity and Eating Habits Changes during the First COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5682
Author(s):  
Hubert Dobrowolski ◽  
Dariusz Włodarek
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
The Impact

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a number of changes in social life around the world. In response to the growing number of infections, some countries have introduced restrictions that may have resulted in the change of the lifestyle. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of the lockdown on body weight, physical activity and some eating habits of the society. The survey involving 183 people was conducted using a proprietary questionnaire. The mean age of the study participants was 33 ± 11 and mean height 169 ± 8 cm. An average increase in body weight was observed in 49.18% by 0.63 ± 3.7 kg which was the result of a decrease in physical activity and an increase in food consumption. We also observed a decrease in PAL from 1.64 ± 0.15 to 1.58 ± 0.13 and changes in the amount of food and individual groups of products consumption, including alcohol. Among the study participants who did not lose body mass, there was an average weight gain of 2.25 ± 2.5 kg. In conclusion, an increase of weight was shown in about half of the respondents in the study group which was associated with a decrease in physical activity and an increase in the consumption of total food and high energy density products.

scholarly journals Reducing Loneliness: The Impact of Mindfulness, Social Cognitions, and Coping

2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412199777
Author(s):  
Robin Besse ◽  
Whitney K. Whitaker ◽  
Laura A. Brannon
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Social Cognitions ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Coping Behaviors ◽  
Current Health ◽  
Current State ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

While many facets of loneliness have been explored, research examining the efficacy of loneliness interventions has been overlooked among young adults. The study of loneliness among young adults has become increasingly important considering the current state of isolation and stay-at-home orders issued to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Preliminary reports suggest an increase in loneliness as a result of the current health pandemic, especially among young adults, who have reported feeling lonelier than any other age group. Such findings warrant the study of ways to help reduce loneliness among young adults. The current study examined the efficacy of strategies that might be used to help young adults manage feelings of loneliness. Two hundred and seventy-eight young adults completed the study. Participants read one of four messages: mindfulness, social cognitions, coping behaviors, or a control. Participants in the mindfulness condition felt better equipped to manage future instances of loneliness and held better attitudes toward this intervention. The current research helps to advance understanding of effective ways of helping young adults cope with loneliness.

scholarly journals How is Satiety Affected When Consuming Food While Working on A Computer?

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily Ding ◽  
Nazimah Hamid ◽  
Daniel Shepherd ◽  
Kevin Kantono
Keyword(s):  
Energy Intake ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Restrained Eating ◽  
Computer Work ◽  
Meal Intake ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

More people working at offices are choosing to eat meals at their desks, making “desktop dining” an increasingly common phenomenon. Previous studies have reported that environmental distractors, such as television viewing, can influence meal intake and subsequent snack intake. However, the impact of stressful mental tasks on eating behavior has received relatively less attention, focusing only on subsequent meal intake or concurrent snack intake. This study sets out to determine whether eating while working influenced current meal energy intake. This research also examined the relationship between dietary restraint status and energy intake. A crossover experimental design was employed requiring participants (14 males and 29 females) to eat pizza quietly and at rest (control), and while working on a computer (work). Measurements included BMI, energy intake, state anxiety, restrained eating behavior, stress levels (pre- and post-eating), and appetite (before and after both work and control sessions). The findings showed that consuming food while working on a computer significantly increased stress but had no influence on energy intake compared to the control condition. However, post-eating hunger levels were significantly higher in the work condition compared to the control condition. As expected, satiety levels decreased significantly from pre- to post-eating for both work and control conditions. In addition, no significant relationship was observed between restrained eating behavior and energy intake in both work and control conditions. These results suggest that eating while working affected satiety of normal weight participants, as indicated by the significant difference in post-meal satiety levels between work and control conditions.

scholarly journals The impact of online learning on student motivation in science and biology classes

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-87
Author(s):  
Mila Bulić ◽  
Ines Blažević
Keyword(s):  
Student Motivation ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Motivation For Learning ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

The research aimed to check for difference in learning motivation between students learning online and students participating in modern classroom instruction. The study participants included students attending grades 5 to 8, divided into experimental (online classes) and control groups based on pre-testing. The results show that there is no statistically significant difference in motivation between the tested sub-samples. Student motivation for learning natural sciences declines with their years of schooling, but this is not statistically significant. It can be concluded that online teaching of Science and Biology as a learning tool can be as motivating as modern teaching using active classroom methods.

scholarly journals How to evaluate the effect of seven years of the Norwegian School Fruit Scheme (2007–2014) on fruit, vegetable and snack consumption and weight status: A natural experiment

2019 ◽  
pp. 140349481987592
Author(s):  
Ingrid Marie Hovdenak ◽  
Tonje Holte Stea ◽  
Per Magnus ◽  
Steinar Krokstad ◽  
Oddrun Samdal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Child Growth ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Norwegian School ◽  
The Impact

Aim: From August 2007 to June 2014, the Norwegian School Fruit Scheme (NSFS) legally established that all pupils in junior high and combined schools (275,000 pupils every year), but not those in primary schools (343,000 pupils every year), were entitled to a free piece of fruit or vegetable every school day. The NSFS is a natural experiment, unique in terms of scope and lengthiness. Such governmental efforts to improve the diet of the public are rarely evaluated. Thus, an evaluation of the comprehensive, well-designed NSFS is warranted. The aim was to describe how the NSFS can be evaluated using existing data sets. Methods: Four data sets have been identified for the evaluation of the NSFS: (a) the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, (b) the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, (c) the Norwegian Child Growth Study/Growth in Teenagers and (d) Health Behaviour in School Aged Children. These comprehensive studies have collected cross-sectional or longitudinal data providing information about children’s dietary consumption and/or weight status, which can be utilised in the evaluation of the NSFS. Both short- and long-term effects of the NSFS related to dietary habits and weight status and the potential effect of moderators such as socio-economic status, sex, ethnicity and the age of children and adolescents can be studied. Conclusions: Worldwide, there is a lack of well-designed, long-term studies evaluating the impact of governmental efforts to improve public diet. The present study describes how the NSFS can be evaluated using data from four large data sets on eating habits and weight status.

scholarly journals Young adult nutrition and weight correlates of picky eating during childhood

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 987-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan H Pesch ◽  
Katherine W Bauer ◽  
Mary J Christoph ◽  
Nicole Larson ◽  
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Picky Eating

AbstractObjective:To identify whether picky eating during childhood is associated with dietary intake, weight status and disordered eating behaviour during young adulthood.Design:A population-based study using data from young adults who responded online or by mail to the third wave of the Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults) study in 2008–2009. Participants retrospectively reported the extent to which they were a picky eater in childhood, sociodemographic characteristics, disordered eating behaviours, usual dietary intake, and weight and height.Setting:Participants were initially recruited in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota, USA, in 1998–1999.Participants:The analytic sample included 2275 young adults (55 % female, 48 % non-Hispanic White, mean age 25·3 (sd 1·6) years).Results:Young adults who reported picky eating in childhood were found to currently have lower intakes of fruit, vegetables and whole grains, and more frequent intakes of snack foods, sugar-sweetened beverages and foods from fast-food restaurants. No associations were observed between picky eating in childhood and young adults’ weight status, use of weight-control strategies or report of binge eating.Conclusions:While young adults who report picky eating during childhood are not at higher risk for disordered eating, those who were picky eaters tend to have less healthy dietary intake. Food preferences and dietary habits established by picky eaters during childhood may persist into adulthood.

scholarly journals Assessment of Dietary Habits and Physical Activity Changes during the Full COVID-19 Curfew Period and Its Effect on Weight among Adults in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8580
Author(s):  
Nisreen M. Abdulsalam ◽  
Najla A. Khateeb ◽  
Sarah S. Aljerbi ◽  
Waad M. Alqumayzi ◽  
Shaima S. Balubaid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
World Health ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Significant Difference

The World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic in March 2020. Global efforts have been made to prevent the disease from spreading through political decisions and personal behaviors, all of which rely on public awareness. The aim of our study was to examine the effect of dietary habits on weight and physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was distributed using social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp) and email communication. A total of 472 adults (age range, 18–59 years), over half of the study population (68.0%) being females, 55.5% being between 19 and 29 years old, 15.0%—between 30 and 39 years old, and 11.2%—older than 50 years old, participated in the study. Our results indicated that the overall body weight was slightly increased among the 50+ age group (47.2%, p > 0.05), but it highly increased among the 30–39-years-old age group (32.4%, p > 0.05) as compared to before the pandemic lockdown period. Therefore, our results show that a significant difference (p < 0.05) was found for all the assessments: weight status, physical activity patterns, hours spent on screen time, homemade meals, and changes in dietary habits before and during the full COVID-19 curfew period. This study demonstrated that changes in eating habits were commonly reported among the participants who represented the full COVID-19 curfew period and that changes in eating habits and decreased physical activity led to weight gain.

scholarly journals Investigation on Dietary Behavior Changes in 658 Pregnant Women Before and During Pregnancy in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
QingWen Wang ◽  
XiaoQI Cao ◽  
Miao Tian ◽  
ZhiHong Li ◽  
CaiXia Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Cooking Methods ◽  
Behavior Changes ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Salty Taste ◽  
Before And After ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background The extra dietary care women receive after pregnancy, coupled with the effect of their own physiological response during pregnancy, can cause some changes in their dietary habits compared with those before pregnancy. Current studies have mostly focused on detailed foods and specific dietary patterns; less attention has been given to changes in food flavor, cooking methods, and meal frequency before and after pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate these changes in pregnant women in TaiYuan City, China and analyze some possible related factors.Methods A total of 658 pregnant women were asked about their frequency of daily meals, choice of eating at home or out, personal preference for different tastes (salty, spicy, and sweet), cooking methods (frying, braising, sautéing, steaming, and stewing), specific food choices, and other changes in dietary habits before and after pregnancy through a questionnaire. SPSS 24.0 was used for all data statistical analyses. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results The choice of salty, spicy, and sweet tastes changed, and the proportion of women who chose lighter flavors after pregnancy increased (P < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between the choice of lighter salty taste and parity (r = 0.142, P = 0.035), that is, pregnant women with more parity were likely to choose a lighter salty taste after pregnancy. By contrast, a negative correlation was found between the choice of lighter spicy taste and age (r = -0.115, P = 0.048), implying that younger pregnant women were likely to choose a lighter spicy taste after pregnancy. In the traditional Chinese cooking methods, compared with pre-pregnancy, the number of pregnant women who chose frying, braising, and sautéing decreased, whereas that of steaming and stewing increased (P < 0.001).Compared with pre-pregnancy, the number of meals every day of pregnant women increased (from 2.85 to 3.09) (P < 0.001), and the frequency of eating at home every week increased (from 4.82 to 5.52) (P < 0.001).Conclusion Overall differences were found in the eating habits of 658 pregnant women before and after pregnancy. Pregnant women with more parity were likely to choose a lighter salty taste, and younger pregnant women were likely to choose a lighter spicy taste.

scholarly journals Studying Children’s Eating at Home: Using Synchronous Videoconference Sessions to Adapt to COVID-19 and Beyond

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shruthi Venkatesh ◽  
Jasmine M. DeJesus
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Picture Quality ◽  
Observational Coding ◽  
Behavioral Coding ◽  
Video Chat ◽  
Before And After ◽  
At Home

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many facets of developmental research, including research that measures children’s eating behavior. Here, children’s food intake is often measured by weighing foods that children are offered before and after in-person testing sessions. Many studies also examine children’s food ratings (the extent to which they like or dislike a food), assessed via picture categorization tasks or hedonic scales. This paper reviews existing research on different methods for characterizing children’s eating behavior (with a focus on food intake, preferences, and concepts) and presents a feasibility study that examined whether children’s eating behaviors at home (including their food intake and ratings) can be measured via live video-chat sessions. The feasibility analyses revealed that an observational feeding paradigm at home yielded a majority (more than 70%) of video-chat recordings that had a sufficient view of the child and adequate sound and picture quality required for observational coding for the majority of the session’s duration. Such positioning would enable behavioral coding of child food intake, parent food talk, and meal characteristics. Moreover, children were able to answer questions to stories and express their preferences via researcher screen-share methods (which can assess children’s self-reported food preferences and beliefs) with low rates of exclusion across studies. The article ends with a discussion on the opportunities and challenges of using online platforms to conduct studies on children’s eating behaviors in their home environments during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

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