Locked on Salt? Increased Consumption of High Sodium Foods During COVID-19 Presents an Underappreciated Public Health Risk

Zhang, Xiaosen; Jia, Ping; Chen, B; Han, Jiuqiang

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3804495

Cited by 4 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Understanding the contexts associated with dietary changes is central to developing targeted interventions. Female gender, higher BMI, lower quality of life, reduced physical activity, and experiencing a greater negative impact from the pandemic have been previously recognised as predictors of unhealthy dietary changes during the pandemic ( 55 , 57 , 58 ). Our study builds upon the current literature, showing these factors are important long-term predictors of adverse dietary change during the pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pandemic-related dietary changes may have occurred from shop closures, or changes in food availability, accessibility, or shopping habits ( 31 , 55 ). Increased HFSS snacking at the start of the pandemic may have resulted from convenience, or greater inconvenience of accessing fresh foods ( 55 , 59 ). Given their high availability, affordability, and long shelf-life, individuals may have prioritised HFSS snacks over fresh foods from the uncertainty over food supply during the pandemic ( 55 , 59 – 61 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Individuals tend to consume more palatable and less healthy foods during stressful life periods ( 62 ). A greater decline in mental health or increased stress, boredom, or anxiety from COVID-19 has been associated with increased ultra-processed, HFSS foods intake, decreased FV intake, and using snacking as a coping mechanism ( 9 , 14 , 32 , 55 , 56 , 63 – 65 ). The increased HFSS snacking at the start of the pandemic may reflect such maladaptive coping mechanisms ( 63 , 66 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The World Health Organisation recommends limiting HFSS foods to reduce the risk of weight gain, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure ( 55 , 74 ). In the UK, average free sugar and saturated fat consumption exceeds recommendations, and average FV intakes are below recommendations ( 31 , 75 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Diet Behaviour Among UK Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis of the HEBECO Study

et al. 2022

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COVID-19 pandemic restrictions impacted dietary habits during the initial months of the pandemic, but long-term effects are unclear. In this longitudinal study, self-selected UK adults (n = 1,733, 71.1% female, 95.7% white ethnicity) completed three online surveys (May–June, August–September, and November–December 2020, with a retrospective pre-pandemic component in the baseline survey), self-reporting sociodemographics, lifestyle, and behaviours, including high fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) snacks, HFSS meals, and fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. Data were analysed using generalised estimating equations. Monthly HFSS snacks portion intake increased from pre-pandemic levels (48.3) in May–June (57.6, p < 0.001), decreased in August–September (43.7, p < 0.001), before increasing back to pre-pandemic levels in November–December (49.2, p < 0.001). A total of 48.5% self-reported increased [25.9 (95% confidence interval: 24.1, 27.8)] and 47.7% self-reported decreased [24.1 (22.4, 26.0)] monthly HFSS snacks portion intakes in November–December compared with pre-pandemic levels. Monthly HFSS meals portion intake decreased from pre-pandemic levels (7.1) in May–June (5.9, p < 0.001), was maintained in August–September (5.9, p = 0.897), and then increased again in November–December (6.6, p < 0.001) to intakes that remained lower than pre-pandemic levels (p = 0.007). A total of 35.2% self-reported increased [4.8 (4.3, 5.3)] and 44.5% self-reported decreased [5.1 (4.6, 5.6)] monthly HFSS meals portion intakes in November–December compared with pre-pandemic levels. The proportion meeting FV intake recommendations was stable from pre-pandemic through to August–September (70%), but decreased in November–December 2020 (67%, p = 0.034). Increased monthly HFSS snacks intake was associated with female gender, lower quality of life, and – in a time - varying manner – older age and higher HFSS meals intake. Increased monthly HFSS meals intake was associated with female gender, living with adults only, and higher HFSS snacks intake. Reduced FV intake was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and lower physical activity. These results suggest large interindividual variability in dietary change during the first year of the pandemic, with important public health implications in individuals experiencing persistent increases in unhealthy diet choices, associated with BMI, gender, quality of life, living conditions, physical activity, and other dietary behaviours.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Diet Behaviour Among UK Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis of the HEBECO Study

et al. 2022

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Sodium chloride replacement by potassium chloride in bread: Determination of sensorial potassium threshold and effect on dough properties and breadmaking quality

Marco

Navarro

León

et al. 2022

International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science

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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on diet behaviour among UK adults: a longitudinal analysis of the HEBECO study

Dicken

Mitchell

Vay

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

COVID-19 pandemic restrictions impacted dietary habits during the initial months of the pandemic, but long-term effects are unclear. In this longitudinal study, self-selected UK adults (n=1,733) completed three online surveys (May-June, August-September and November-December 2020, with a retrospective pre-pandemic component in the baseline survey), self-reporting sociodemographics, lifestyle and behaviours, including high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) snacks, HFSS meals and fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. Data were analysed using generalised estimating equations. Monthly HFSS snacks portion intake increased from pre-pandemic levels (48.3) in May-June (57.6, p<0.001), decreased in August-September (43.7, p<0.001), before increasing back to pre-pandemic levels in November-December (49.2, p<0.001). 48.5% self-reported increased (25.9 [95% confidence interval: 24.1, 27.8]) and 47.7% self-reported decreased (24.1 [22.4,26.0]) monthly HFSS snacks portion intakes in November-December compared with pre-pandemic levels. Monthly HFSS meals portion intake decreased from pre-pandemic levels (7.1) in May-June (5.9, p<0.001), being maintained in August-September (5.9, p=0.897), and then increasing again in November-December (6.6, p<0.001), to intakes that remained lower than pre-pandemic levels (p=0.007). 35.2% self-reported increased (4.8 [4.3, 5.3]) and 44.5% self-reported decreased (5.1 [4.6,5.6]) monthly HFSS meals portion intakes in November-December compared with pre-pandemic levels. The proportion meeting FV intake recommendations was stable from pre-pandemic through to August-September (70%), but decreased in November-December 2020 (67%, p=0.034). Increased monthly HFSS snacks intake was associated with female gender, lower quality of life, and - in a time-varying manner - older age and higher HFSS meals intake. Increased monthly HFSS meals intake was associated with female gender, living with adults only and higher HFSS snacks intake. Reduced FV intake was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and lower physical activity. These results suggest large interindividual variability in dietary change during the first year of the pandemic, with important public health implications in individuals experiencing persistent increases in unhealthy diet choices, associated with BMI, gender, quality of life, living conditions, physical activity and other dietary behaviours.

show abstract

Locked on Salt? Increased Consumption of High Sodium Foods During COVID-19 Presents an Underappreciated Public Health Risk

Cited by 4 publications

References 62 publications

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Diet Behaviour Among UK Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis of the HEBECO Study

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Diet Behaviour Among UK Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis of the HEBECO Study

Sodium chloride replacement by potassium chloride in bread: Determination of sensorial potassium threshold and effect on dough properties and breadmaking quality

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on diet behaviour among UK adults: a longitudinal analysis of the HEBECO study

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