COVID-19 pandemic: Changes in the emotions, body weights and nutrition habits of individuals during social intervention measures

Abstract

BACKGROUND: During the Covid 19 pandemic, the increase in the anxiety levels of individuals is associated with the increase in body weight. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of changes in individuals’ experiences and mood on eating habits and body weights in during social restrictions due to COVID-19. METHODS: The study included 623 adults in Turkey. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, information about nutritional habits during the pandemic period were questioned via an online survey. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to evaluate individuals’ negative perspectives. RESULTS: The rate of patients who experienced body weight changes during the pandemic period was 61.4% (40.2% experienced increase), the mean BDI value was found to be higher in individuals whose body weight increased/decreased compared to those who experienced no change in body weight (p = 0.008, p = 0.02, respectively). Variables that positively affected the BDI scores, which was performed in individuals with increased body weight, main meal numbers (p < 0.03), and change in dried fruit consumption (p = 0.05). The variables that negatively affected the BDI scores were body weight increase (p = 0.05) and changes in cheese consumption. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the changes in the emotional state during COVID-19 had an effect on dietary habits and body weight. There is a need for more comprehensive randomized studies on the interaction between lifestyle changes during the social intervention period due to the Covid 19 epidemic, quality of life, emotional state and eating habits.

Association of dietary intake of polyphenols, lignans, and phytosterols with immune-stimulating microbiota and COVID-19 risk in a group of Polish men and women

“…Optimal dietary intake of macro-and micronutrients and other bioactive constituents may affect the immune system and thus strengthen the protection against influenzalike illnesses such as COVID-19 disease (1,11,17,31). Unfortunately, the pandemic has had a significant impact on nutritional habits, yet dietary changes have manifested differently and to various extents among men and women as well as in people with distinct socioeconomic status (32)(33)(34). For example, improvements in line with a Mediterranean diet which is proven to help boost immunity, were associated with higher education, wealth, skilled manual occupations and male sex (33).…”