scholarly journals Reported Changes in Dietary Habits During the COVID-19 Lockdown in the Danish Population: The Danish COVIDiet Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Giacalone ◽  
Michael Bom Frøst ◽  
Celia Rodríguez-Pérez

This paper focuses on the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the dietary habits of adult Danes. Two aspects were specifically considered: 1) reported changes in intake of specific food categories and 2) effect on healthy eating, operationalized as adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MEDAS score). Respondents (N = 2,462) completed a 44-items self-administered online survey designed for the assessment of their socio-demographic characteristics, general food habits, and consumption frequency of selected foods (mainly related to the MedDiet) during the lockdown. The data indicated that the lockdown has affected dietary habits of adult Danes to a relatively limited degree. The most important findings were that a substantial proportion of respondents (≥28%) reported eating more, snacking more, exercising less, and gaining weight during the lockdown. Results could be linked to the amount of time spent at home (e.g., a higher cooking frequency) a higher degree of emotional eating during the lockdown (e.g., a higher consumption of pastries and alcohol). Women were generally affected to a higher degree than men. Additionally, dietary changes during the lockdown to a certain degree reflected pre-existing (un)healthy eating habits, as positive health outcomes were observed in respondents with a high MEDAS score and negative outcomes (e.g., weight gain and higher intakes of pastries and carbonated beverages) were associated with respondents with a low MEDAS score. These changes, if sustained long-term, are potentially concerning from a public health perspective, especially given that more than half of the respondents were characterized by a low adherence to the MedDiet.

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazi Enamul Hoque ◽  
Megat Ahmad Kamaluddin ◽  
Ahmad Zabidi Abdul Razak ◽  
Afiq Athari Abdul Wahid

BackgroundOverweight and obesity have increased rapidly in incidence to become a global issue today. Overweight and obesity problems are significantly linked to unhealthy dietary patterns, physical inactivity and misperception of body image. This study aimed to determine whether Malaysian children build healthy eating habits from childhood.MethodsA survey on eating habits was conducted among primary school students in standards 4 to 6 in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. The findings of the study were reported in the form of descriptive statistics involving frequencies and percentages. Data from 400 respondents were analyzed.ResultsOur findings showed that the students understood the definition of healthy food and the types of food that are considered healthy. Although the students knew that food such as deep-fried drumsticks and hamburgers contain a high amount of saturated fat and cholesterol, these foods were still consumed by them. There was also a high consumption of foods that are fried and contain sugar, salt and saturated fat. In choosing food, two major factors contributed to the students’ decisions: cleanliness (65.8%) and the preference of their parents (12.3%).DiscussionOur findings indicate that by implementing the Integrated School Health Program (ISHP) properly, students’ eating habits can be improved by creating a school with a healthy environment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annelie Gresse ◽  
Jayne Seaman

Adolescent learners tend to express their independence by engaging in risky health behaviour inclusive of poor eating habits, smoking and alcohol consumption. The aim of this study was to assess whether adolescents attending a religious school that maintains strict discipline are less likely to engage in risky behaviour. Learners attending a private Christian school were asked to complete a health risk behavioural questionnaire, which measured attitudes toward eating habits, alcohol and drug use, participation in exercise and sexual activity, smoking habits and adherence to Christian values. The sample group consisted of 117 study participants distributed across all high school Grades. On balance, these learners were more conservative than others attending secular schools and most reported healthy eating habits; 92.3% consumed dairy products, 64.1% consumed more than two fruits and 81.2% more than two vegetables per day. More than 78% exercised regularly. Only 10.2% consumed alcohol, 3.4% smoked and 5.2% used recreational drugs. Of all learners, 93.2% indicated their Christian values as having a moderating impact on their lifestyle. The study concludes with the recommendation to investigate ways in which the strategies employed by this Christian school could be promoted to other schools given the finding that Christian values translate into positive health outcomes amongst adolescents. As it seems that the strict Christian education of these learners leads to less risky health behaviour, ways in which to promote this school’s strategies to other schools could be investigated. Opsomming Tienerleerders sal dikwels hul onafhanklikheid in die vorm van onveilige gesondheidsgedrag soos byvoorbeeld swak eetgewoontes, rook and alkoholgebruik uitdruk. Die doelstelling van die studie was om te bepaal of ‘n skool se streng dissipline, wat klem lê op Christelike beginsels, ‘n invloed het op die voorkoming van onveilige gesondheidsgedrag. Alle leerders van ‘n private Christelike hoërskool is versoek om vrywillig ‘n vraelys wat hulle gedrag en houding aangaande eetgewoontes, alkohol- en dwelmgebruik, oefening, seksuele aktiwiteit, rook en Christelike waardes te bepaal. Die steekproefgrootte was 117 en het leerders van alle Grade (8 – 12) ingesluit. Die resultate dui daarop dat hierdie leerders meer konserwatief is as leerders in ander studies. Die meeste het gesonde eetgewoontes gehad; 92.3% gebruik suiwelprodukte, 64.1% eet meer as twee vrugte en 81/2% eet meer as twee groente per dag. Meer as 78% oefen gereeld. Net 10.2% gebruik alkohol, 3.4% rook en 5.2% het al dwelmmiddels gebruik. Van al die leerders het 93.2% geglo dat hulle Christellike waardes ‘n invloed op hulle leefstyl het. Dit wil dus voorkom of die streng Christelike opvoeding van hierdie leerders tot minder onveilige gesondheidsgedrag lei en maniere om die skool se doelwitte by ander skole bekend te stel, behoort ondersoek te word.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-86
Author(s):  
Man Zhang ◽  
Virginia Quick ◽  
Yanhong Jin ◽  
Jennifer Martin-Biggers

Objective: Examining associations of mother’s behaviors and home/neighborhood physical activity (PA) environments with preschoolers’ PA and screen time. Design: Cross-sectional online survey. Setting: Mothers with a 2 to 5 years old preschooler were recruited from the US panel members of Survey Sampling International. Participants: Five hundred thirty-one mothers with a preschool child aged 2 to 5 years old. Outcome Measure: Child daily screen time and PA, mother–child inside- and outside-home co-PA. Analysis: K-mean cluster analysis and Logit and negative binomial regressions. Results: Mothers’ healthy behaviors, such as decreased screen time, healthy eating habits, and increased PA, and perceived importance for PA were significantly ( P < .05) associated with preschoolers’ decreased screen time and increased PA. Available toys ( P < .01) and maternal perceived neighborhood safety ( P < .05) were negatively correlated with preschoolers’ screen time, while available room space ( P < .01) was positively correlated with preschoolers’ PA. Variables positively correlated with mother–child co-PA included mothers’ PA ( P < .001) and healthy eating habits ( P < .05), and home room space ( P < .05) for inside-home, and yard space and quality ( P < .05) for outside-home. Conclusions: Mother’s role modeling and home PA environment were positively associated with preschoolers’ PA behavior.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2097
Author(s):  
Kelly Cosgrove ◽  
Christopher Wharton

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in substantial lifestyle changes. No US study has identified predictors of perceived dietary healthfulness changes during the pandemic period. This study included analyses of lifestyle and dietary healthfulness changes using 958 survey responses from US primary household food purchasers. Information was collected related to demographics, COVID-19-related household changes, and health-related habits before and during the pandemic. Binary logistic regression identified predictors of perceived increase in dietary healthfulness during the pandemic period. Overall, 59.8%, 16.4%, and 23.4% of participants reported that their eating habits likely changed, may have changed, and likely did not change, respectively. Of the participants whose dietary habits likely or may have changed, 64.1%, 16.8%, and 19% reported healthier, neither healthier nor less healthy, and less healthy eating habits, respectively. COVID-19-related income loss, more meals consumed with household members in front of the television, an increase in food advertisement exposure, increased perceived stress, and better perceived current health were significant predictors of a perceived increase in dietary healthfulness. Overall, dietary habits were perceived to become healthier during the pandemic. The predictors of perceived improvement in dietary healthfulness were surprising and indicate the need for further study of these factors in crisis and noncrisis situations.


Author(s):  
Winnie Wing Man Ng ◽  
Anthony Siu Wo Wong ◽  
Kin Cheung

This cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT)-designed study aimed to explore the feasibility of a promotion pamphlet and/or WhatsApp as a suitable mode of delivery to promote healthy eating habits with fruit and vegetables (F&V) among firefighters. Convenience and snowball sampling methods were used. Forty-five firefighters from 23 fire stations were recruited and they all received the printed pamphlet, while the intervention group participants (n = 20) received additional teaching material through WhatsApp every two weeks for eight weeks. Feasibility outcomes included retention, practicality, and implementation. The participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the intervention. There were significant improvements in the mean numbers of days consuming F&V (p = 0.002; p = 0.031) in the intervention group, and for fruit consumption (p = 0.033) in the control group between the baseline (T0) and 3 months after completion of intervention (T1). High levels of participants’ satisfaction with the intervention revealed that a full-scale CRCT of the WhatsApp-delivered intervention promoting healthy eating could be feasible, especially as a means of increasing the numbers of days they consumed F&V and the numbers of servings of these consumed per day.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo C. Noronha ◽  
Monique I. A. F. Santos ◽  
Adrianny A. Santos ◽  
Lizia G. A. Corrente ◽  
Rúbia K. N. Fernandes ◽  
...  

Nutrition education is one of the factors that may help to promote behavior change and therefore may improve the dietary habits of adolescent soccer players. However, information about the relationship between nutrition knowledge (NK) and the dietary behavior of these athletes is scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the eating habits of adolescent soccer players and analyse the correlations among dietary intake and NK. Seventy-three Brazilian adolescent soccer players (aged 14–19 years), from four professional clubs, underwent anthropometric evaluation and completed 3-day food records. Misreporting of energy intake was evaluated and the dietary intake data were energy-adjusted and compared with recommendations for athletes and dietary reference intakes. The athletes also answered a questionnaire about barriers for healthy eating and a nutrition knowledge test divided into three sections: Basic Nutrition Knowledge (BNK), Sports Nutrition Knowledge (SNK), and Food Pyramid Nutrition Knowledge (FPNK). The participants showed a low NK (54.6%) and an inadequate intake of fruits, vegetables, dairy, carbohydrates, and micronutrients. A positive correlation was found between the ingestion of phosphorus and FPNK as well as among calcium and both SNK and Total NK (p<0.05). Sodium intake was negatively correlated with all categories of the NK test (p<0.05). The adolescents reported that the principal barriers for adopting a healthy diet were the lack of willpower and a busy lifestyle. In this context, nutrition education is recommended and should also provide practicable healthy eating goals according to athletes´ lifestyle as well as target motivational barriers to increase adherence.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leticia Elizondo-Montemayor ◽  
Diana Moreno-Sànchez ◽  
Norma G. Gutierrez ◽  
Fabiola Monsivais-Rodriguez ◽  
Ubaldo Martinez ◽  
...  

Hispanic children and those from low-socioeconomic status are predisposed to unhealthy eating habits and obesity.Aim. to implement an individualized, face-to-face, parent supported, and school-partnership dietetic intervention to promote healthy eating habits and decrease body mass index. Prospective school year dietetic intervention of 101 obese, Hispanic, low-socioeconomic school-age children representative of Monterrey, Mexico, consisted of anthropometrics, dietetic assessment, energy-restriction tailor-made daily menus, and parental education every three weeks. Student’st-test was used for means comparison. A significant decrease was found in body mass index percentile(96.43±3.32to93.42±8.12/P=0.00)and energy intake/day of −755.7 kcal/day(P=0.00). Among other energy dense foods with significant decline in servings/day and servings/week were processed meats(3.13 ± 1.43to2.19 ± 1.04/P=0.00and5.60 ± 1.75to4.37 ± 2.10/P=0.00, resp.), saturated fat(1.47 ± 1.08to0.78 ± 0.79/P=0.00and2.19±2.18to1.1±1.36/P=0.00), sweetened beverages(2.79±1.99to1.42±1.21and6.21±1.72to3.89±2.80/P=0.00), and desserts and refined-grain bakery(1.99±1.54to1.32±1.59and2.85 ± 2.54to1.57 ± 2.20/P=0.00). There was a significant increase in servings/day and servings/week of water(2.98 ± 2.02to4.91 ± 2.37and6.62 ± 2.03to6.87 ± 0.91/P=0.00, resp.) and nutrient dense foods such as fruits(1.31 ± 0.89to1.66 ± 0.96and3.34 ± 2.24to4.28 ± 2.43/P=0.00)and fish and poultry(3.76 ± 2.15to4.54 ± 2.25/P=0.00). This intervention created healthy eating habits and decreased body mass index in a high risk population. Trial registration number:NCT01925976.


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