scholarly journals Changes in Eating Behaviour during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic among the Inhabitants of Five European Countries

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1624
Author(s):  
Paulina Górska ◽  
Ilona Górna ◽  
Izabela Miechowicz ◽  
Juliusz Przysławski

Psychological factors and restrictions imposed due to the pandemic may influence eating behaviours and physical activity. With the above thesis in mind, questionnaire-based surveys were conducted amongst residents of five European countries: Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Great Britain (England and Scotland). A specially devised, structured questionnaire was used to conduct anonymous internet surveys between 28 April and 16 July 2020. It contained questions pertaining to sociodemographic data, eating behaviours, the impact of the pandemic on the diet and physical activity. The questionnaire was made available to internet users in Poland, Italy, Spain, Great Britain (England and Scotland), and Portugal. The questionnaire was translated by native speakers into five languages: Polish, English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Survey results were then analysed using StatSoft’s Statistica v. 13 software and Cytel’s StatXact v. 9.0.0. Age was the parameter that impacted changing eating behaviours to the largest extent during the pandemic. It was also found that during the pandemic, regular consumption of meals was most dependent on various factors. The negative impact of the pandemic within this scope was most profound amongst women, city residents regardless of gender and people over 35 years of age. A change in the frequency of consumption of selected product groups during the pandemic was also observed. Reduced consumption of meat and fish was identified. Especially among people under 35 living in Portugal, almost half—45.5% (p = 0.0210) declared lower consumption of meat, and more than half—54.5% (p = 0.011) reported lower consumption of fish. An analysis of the obtained results also showed an increase in the consumption of products with lower nutritional values, particularly amongst people under 35 years of age and also amongst residents of Great Britain (regardless of age). Moreover, the results showed that the pandemic may have had an impact on the weight reduction diet. A negative impact was declared by 16.5% of people, compared to 9.7% who said that the pandemic facilitated the use of the weight reduction diet (p = 0.006). The results of our survey also showed a decrease in the level of physical activity among people over 35 living in Poland (69.6%, p = 0.0497) and people living in Portuguese cities (72.73%, p = 0.0245). Our survey results showed that the impact of the pandemic on eating behaviours was particularly profound when it came to meal consumption regularity. Changes to the consumption of products with lower nutritional values, which may decrease immunity, have also been found during the pandemic. Our results showed that the problem associated with consuming products with lower nutritional values was particularly evident amongst people under 35. Considering the global character of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, further research is necessary to determine its impact on the diet, nutritional status and physical activity.

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-21
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Papaspanos

<b>Background:</b> Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on health behaviours and lifestyles at home is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020, in seven languages, to elucidate the behavioural and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the results from the first thousand responders on physical activity (PA) and nutrition behaviours. <b>Subjects and methods:</b> Following a structured review of the literature, the «Effects of home Confinement on multiple Lifestyle Behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak (ECLB-COVID19)» Electronic survey was designed by a steering group of multidisciplinary scientists and academics. The survey was uploaded and shared on the Google online survey platform. Thirty-five research organisations from Europe, North Africa, Western Asia and the Americas promoted the survey in English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and Slovenian languages. Questions were presented in a differential format, with questions related to responses «before» and «during» confinement conditions. <b>Results:</b> 1047 replies (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other (3%) were included in the analysis. The COVID-19 home confinement had a negative effect on all PA intensity levels (vigorous, moderate, walking and overall). Additionally, daily sitting time increased from 5 to 8 h per day. Food consumption and meal patterns (the type of food, eating out of control, snacks between meals, number of main meals) were more unhealthy during confinement, with only alcohol binge drinking decreasing significantly. <b>Summary:</b> While isolation is a necessary measure to protect public health, results indicate that it alters physical activity and eating behaviours in a health compromising direction. A more detailed analysis of survey data will allow for a segregation of these responses in different age groups, countries and other subgroups, which will help develop interventions to mitigate the negative lifestyle behaviours that have manifested during the COVID-19 confinement.


Author(s):  
Achraf Ammar ◽  
Michael Brach ◽  
Khaled Trabelsi ◽  
Hamdi Chtourou ◽  
Omar Boukhris ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundPublic health recommendations and governmental measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have enforced numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on health behaviours and lifestyle at home is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020 in seven languages to elucidate the behavioral and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the preliminary results from the first thousand responders on physical activity (PA) and nutrition behaviours.MethodsThirty-five research organisations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, in English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portugese, and Slovenian languages. Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses “before” and “during” confinement conditions.Results1047 replies (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other (3%) were included into a general analysis. The COVID-19 home confinement had a negative effect on all intensities of PA (vigorous, moderate, walking and overall). Conversely, daily sitting time increased from 5 to 8 hours per day. Additionally, food consumption and meal patterns (the type of food, eating out of control, snacks between meals, number of meals) were more unhealthy during confinement with only alcohol binge drink decreasing significantly.ConclusionWhile isolation is a necessary measure to protect public health, our results indicate that it alters physical activity and eating behaviours in a direction that would compromise health. A more detailed analysis of survey data will allow for a segregation of these responses in different age groups, countries and other subgroups which will help develop bespoke interventions to mitigate the negative lifestyle behaviors manifest during the COVID-19 confinement.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achraf Ammar ◽  
Michael Brach ◽  
Khaled Trabelsi ◽  
Hamdi Chtourou ◽  
Omar Boukhris ◽  
...  

Background: Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on health behaviours and lifestyles at home is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020, in seven languages, to elucidate the behavioural and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the results from the first thousand responders on physical activity (PA) and nutrition behaviours. Methods: Following a structured review of the literature, the “Effects of home Confinement on multiple Lifestyle Behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak (ECLB-COVID19)” Electronic survey was designed by a steering group of multidisciplinary scientists and academics. The survey was uploaded and shared on the Google online survey platform. Thirty-five research organisations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia and the Americas promoted the survey in English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and Slovenian languages. Questions were presented in a differential format, with questions related to responses “before” and “during” confinement conditions. Results: 1047 replies (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other (3%) were included in the analysis. The COVID-19 home confinement had a negative effect on all PA intensity levels (vigorous, moderate, walking and overall). Additionally, daily sitting time increased from 5 to 8 h per day. Food consumption and meal patterns (the type of food, eating out of control, snacks between meals, number of main meals) were more unhealthy during confinement, with only alcohol binge drinking decreasing significantly. Conclusion: While isolation is a necessary measure to protect public health, results indicate that it alters physical activity and eating behaviours in a health compromising direction. A more detailed analysis of survey data will allow for a segregation of these responses in different age groups, countries and other subgroups, which will help develop interventions to mitigate the negative lifestyle behaviours that have manifested during the COVID-19 confinement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manar Abduljalil Bakhsh ◽  
Jomana Khawandanah ◽  
Rouba Khalil Naaman ◽  
Shoug Alashmali

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has forced governments around the world to impose strict hygiene and national lockdown measures, which in turn has changed the dietary and lifestyle habits of the world’s population. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether dietary and physical activity behaviors of Saudi Arabia’s adult population changed during the COVID-19 quarantine. Methods An electronic questionnaire which assessed changes in body weight, dietary habits, and physical activity of Saudi Arabia’s adult population (n = 2255) during the COVID-19 quarantine was distributed on social media between June and July 2020. To test the differences between changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors in relation to changes in body weight a Chi-square test was used. Results Over 40 and 45% of participants reported eating and snacking more, respectively, which led to weight gain in around 28%. Most participants reported that they consumed home-cooked (73%) and healthy meals (47%), while only 7% reported that they consumed foods from restaurants. Feelings of boredom and emptiness (44%) and the availability of time for preparing meals (40%) were the main reasons for changing dietary habits. Honey (43%) and vitamin C (50%) were the most consumed immune-boosting food and dietary supplement, respectively. COVID-19 also had a negative impact on physical activity, lowering the practice in 52% subjects, which was associated with significant weight gain (p < 0.001). Conclusion Assessing the changes to the population’s dietary habits and physical activity during the lockdown will help predict the outcome of the population’s future health and wellbeing after the pandemic.


Author(s):  
Diona Wahyuni ◽  

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) are severe body image disorders that severely interfere with the daily functioning of the individual. They are separate but overlapping nosologically entities. There is a study on the tendency of wrong eating behaviour in adolescents with specifications for anorexia nervosa in Jakarta 11.6% and there is also a study at High School in Jakarta 88.5% of adolescents experience wrong eating behaviour with the specifications of anorexia nervosa. And the two largest epidemiological surveys regarding BDD, there were 2.5% women and 2.2% men. With a fairly high number of these two events, this has the potential to have a negative impact on someone’s health. This study aims to discuss the impact of anorexia nervosa. Methods: The researcher used several literature and scientific journals, which was based on 15 journals and literature, discussing a tendency to anorexia nervosa with the incidence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder and its medical emergencies. Conclusion: There is a correlation of anorexia nervosa among teenager especially girl teenage


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ann Smith

Numerous studies have considered the impact of hosting a mega sporting event on adults. Using the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Paralympics as a case study, this thesis is the first to consider the impact of such an event on adolescents over a decade pre and post the event. It investigates the legacies of the 2010 Games on physical activity, employment, and community connectedness, and the environmental, psychological and social mechanisms through which any legacies may have occurred. A mixed-methods approach was used which combined analyses of cross-sectional data from the BC Adolescent Health Survey and Homeless and Street Involved Youth Survey, with sports club membership data and stakeholder consultations. Using selfreport data from over 60,000 adolescents—including three subpopulations typically excluded from mega events (adolescents with a disability, experiencing homelessness, and at risk of incarceration)—the study considered positive and negative, planned and unplanned, tangible and intangible legacies, and the time and space in which they occurred (Preuss, 2016). Results differed by age, gender and location. For example, the 2010 Games were more likely to have both a positive and negative impact on homeless youth in host communities compared to non-host communities. However, across British Columbia, a positive perception of the Games’ impact was associated with regular physical activity. Vulnerable subpopulations generally reported more negative impacts of the Games, but those who reported positive impacts experienced some reduction in health disparities with the general population. However, rather than serving as a catalyst to close the gap in organised sports participation between adolescents with a physical disability and their peers, the disparity increased following the Games. Stakeholder consultations provided context to these findings, and offered insight into how future mega sporting events might be leveraged to support healthy adolescent development at the population and subpopulation level.


Author(s):  
Tetiana Ivashchenko

The most contradictions arise today over the pension system reforming. Each year the states spent significant resources to finance social and economic needs of the population. The positive effect of the nominal growth of the social and economic guarantees in Ukraine leveled nowadays in terms of financial, economic and political instability. Also the processes of depopulation have a very negative impact on the financial viability of the PAYG pension system. Given this, the research aim was to study and discuss tendencies in financial provision of the pension systems in the European countries and Ukraine under globalization. As a result in the process of research the main features of functioning and providing of the pension insurance systems in European countries and Ukraine were examined; the impact of the depopulation processes on the financial provision of the pension systems was determined; problems, related to introduction of the funded system of pension insurance were analyzed; the role of the minimum pension institute in provision of the effective pension system functioning was disclosed and recommendations in relation to optimization of pension insurance and providing сo-operation under globalization were developed.


Author(s):  
Noha A. Farrag ◽  
Asmaa M. Ezzat

Even though corruption is correlated to political and moral degradation, there is no consensus on the impact of corruption on economic growth. Although, theory leans to the view that corruption has negative impact on growth, still empirical evidence and counter arguments show that there might be positive implications for corruption. This paper compares the corruption impact on growth in 17 developed European countries vs. 15 developing MENA countries using a pooled OLS model and a random effects model for the period (1999-2012). This paper contributes to the literature by examining the impact of corruption on growth in scarcely examined countries in Europe and MENA. Also, the paper findings are intriguing because they show that the region, as a proxy to degree of development, significantly influences the effect of corruption on economic growth.


Author(s):  
Noha A. Farrag ◽  
Asmaa M. Ezzat

Even though corruption is correlated to political and moral degradation, there is no consensus on the impact of corruption on economic growth. Although, theory leans to the view that corruption has negative impact on growth, still empirical evidence and counter arguments show that there might be positive implications for corruption. This paper compares the corruption impact on growth in 17 developed European countries vs. 15 developing MENA countries using a pooled OLS model and a random effects model for the period (1999-2012). This paper contributes to the literature by examining the impact of corruption on growth in scarcely examined countries in Europe and MENA. Also, the paper findings are intriguing because they show that the region, as a proxy to degree of development, significantly influences the effect of corruption on economic growth.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley Crispilho ◽  
Eduardo J Duque ◽  
Carla Avesani ◽  
Rosa Maria R Pereira ◽  
Ana Lúcia De Sá-Pinto ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Increased levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) are associated with a negative impact on the bone-muscle axis including sarcopenia with muscle weakness and muscle atrophy and osteoporosis, and it is possible that treating hyperparathyroidism (HPT) can ameliorate these disturbances. However, the effects of parathyroidectomy (PTX) on muscle mass, strength and performance, and physical activity have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aims to evaluate the impact of PTX on muscle (mass, strength, and performance), physical activity, body fat and resting energy expenditure (REE) in patients on hemodialysis with severe HPT. Method We are prospectively evaluating muscle mass strength, performance and physical activity of 30 patients before and after 6 months of PTX by using Actigraph GT3X accelerometer, timed-up-and-Go (TuG), Sit-to-Stand-to-Sit (STS) and muscle strength tests [handgrip (HGS), supine (SP) and leg press (LP)]. Body composition changes were assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and REE was examined by indirect calorimetry. Results At 6 months after PTX, 11 patients who already completed the protocol, showed a significant drop in PTH [1445 (1363-1937) vs. 54 (23-132) pg/mL; p = 0.002] and alkaline phosphatase [306 (235-744) vs. 77.5 (52-100] U/L); p = 0.002], a significant increase of number of steps/day [4321 (3384 – 6317) vs. 5950 (3918 – 7159); p = 0.04] and improvements of strength tests: HGS (27 ±14 vs. 31 ±15 kg; p = 0.01); SP (27 ±15 vs. 31 ±17 kg; p = 0.01] and LP [27 (2-36) vs. 36 (24-89) kg; p 0.04]. In addition, there was a significant reduction of TuG [10 (8-15) vs. 8 (7-11) seconds; p = 0.01], and a tendency towards STS improvement [6 (0-7) vs. 8 (7-11); p = 0.06]. A significant increase in body weight (66 ± 12 vs. 68 ± 14 Kg; p = 0.02), body mass index [24 (21–26) vs. 26 (21–28) kg/m2; p 0.001], and bone mineral content (BMC) [1.8 (1.3-2) vs. 2.1 (1.7-2.7); p=0.002] was seen. However, lean body mass (LBM) decreased [40.4 (38-55) vs. 39 (37-51) Kg; p=0.001], whereas fat mass (FAT) increased [18 (17-28) vs. 24 (17–30) kg; p = 0.02]. No change was noted in skeletal muscle index (SMI) and in REE [1580 (1193–1988) vs. 1473 (1326 - 1786) kcal/day; p = 0.7). We noticed a tendency toward an increase in IGF-1 levels [180 (141-207) vs. 223 (151-281) µg/L; p = 0.08], but no significant variation was found in serum albumin, insulin and HOMA index. Conclusion In hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism undergoing PTX, there were marked improvements of muscular function and bone mass, but not of muscle mass. Our findings suggest that PTH-associated sarcopenia is mediated not only by a decrease in muscle mass but also by muscle dysfunction. The long-term effect of PTX on muscle status remains to be further examined.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document