Journal Article

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

Scognamiglio, Umberto, Grant, Federica, Scalvedi, Maria Luisa, Rossi, Laura, Turrini, Aida

2021

Overview

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.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Adult / Aged / Analysis / Cluster Analysis / Communicable Disease Control - methods / Consumption / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / COVID-19 - epidemiology / COVID-19 - prevention & control / COVID-19 infection / Cross-Sectional Studies / Data collection / Diet / Diet, Mediterranean - statistics & numerical data / Disease transmission / Eating behavior / Exercise / Feeding Behavior / Female / fish / Food waste / fruits / Humans / Immune system / Italy / Italy - epidemiology / Life Style / lifestyle / Lifestyles / Male / Meat / Mediterranean diet / Middle Aged / Nutrition / Nutrition research / Nutritional Status / pandemic / Pandemics / Pandemics - prevention & control / physical activity / Population / Public health / Questionnaires / Refuse Disposal - statistics & numerical data / Requirements / SARS-CoV-2 / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / shellfish / Shelter in place / Social networks / Surveys / Surveys and Questionnaires / Vegetables