Psychological Aspects and Eating Habits during COVID-19 Home Confinement: Results of EHLC-COVID-19 Italian Online Survey

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the population with consequences on lifestyles. The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between eating habits, mental and emotional mood. A survey was conducted online during social isolation, from 24 April to 18 May 2020, among the Italian population. A total of 602 interviewees were included in the data analysis. A high percentage of respondents experienced a depressed mood, anxious feelings, hypochondria and insomnia (61.3%, 70.4%, 46.2% and 52.2%). Almost half of the respondents felt anxious due to the fact of their eating habits, consumed comfort food and were inclined to increase food intake to feel better. Age was inversely related to dietary control (OR = 0.971, p = 0.005). Females were more anxious and disposed to comfort food than males (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). A strength of our study was represented by the fact that the survey was conducted quickly during the most critical period of the Italian epidemic lockdown. As the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, our data need to be confirmed and investigated in the future with larger population studies.

Prevalence and Predictors of Emotional Eating among Healthy Young Saudi Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…An Italian study during COVID-19 addressed emotional eating using a subset of items from the Yale food addiction scale. Among 602 individuals (age 18–79 years old), about half the cohort increased their food intake to feel better (55%) and used food in response to anxious feelings (48.7%) [ 46 ]. The study identified women as being more disposed than men to anxiety and to consuming comfort foods.…”

“…Women were also more likely to report depression; EE (and specific anxiety about it); treatment with drugs and supplements; and having been “on a diet” prior to COVID-19. Younger age, lower BMI (significant for women respondents compared to men), not being anxious, and less food intake for satisfaction were predictors of overfeeding control [ 46 ].…”

A Humanities-Based Explanation for the Effects of Emotional Eating and Perceived Stress on Food Choice Motives during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Sensory appeal, the taste and presentation of food, may function as a motivator for emotional eating by offering psychological escape and distraction [65]. Aesthetic objects and activities engage our senses, focusing our attention on the experience at hand and taking our minds off of other issues, including the current pandemic situation [109].…”

“…Participants’ perceived stress levels, eating behaviors, and food choice motives were assessed in June 2020, two months after the “stay-at-home” order was implemented in at least 42 states in the US. Preliminary research suggests this prolonged homestay may be negatively impacting mental health [ 4 , 35 , 65 ] and dietary behavior changes [ 35 , 65 ]. We hypothesized that the relationship between perceived stress and food choice motives would be mediated by emotional eating ( Figure 1 ).…”

Emotional Eating in Relation to Worries and Psychological Distress Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Population-Based Survey on Adults in Norway

“…Although limited, most current studies show an increased burden of mental health symptoms among psychiatric patients and healthcare workers and lower psychological well-being in the general population amid the COVID-19 outbreak [ 3 ]. Population-based studies have also revealed a high occurrence of self-reported psychological distress during the early phases of the pandemic in different populations [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”