Lifestyle Changes and Dietary Patterns during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Summary
The emergence of COVID-19 and the consequent public health measures triggered profound shifts in daily routines, food choices and physical activity worldwide. Lockdowns, social distancing and periods of home confinement fostered a decline in overall movement and an increase in sedentary behaviour, while mental health stressors drove changes in eating habits. Many populations reported heightened intake of energy‐dense “comfort” foods, more frequent snacking, irregular meal patterns and restrictions in access to fresh fruit and vegetables. Conversely, some regions witnessed improvements in home cooking and adherence to traditional healthy diets. Changes were not uniform: young adults, those with pre-existing mental health conditions or socioeconomic deprivation were more prone to rapid weight gain and poorer diet quality, whereas others used the opportunity to adopt more balanced meal planning. The pandemic thus illuminated the interdependence of nutrition, physical activity and psychosocial factors, underscoring the need for targeted interventions that address both behavioural and structural determinants of health in recovery and future emergency planning.
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Lifestyle Changes and Dietary Patterns during the COVID-19 Pandemic publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in lifestyle changes and dietary patterns during the covid-19 pandemic across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Body mass index (BMI): A measure of body fat based on weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres.
Cohort study: An observational research design in which a group sharing a defining characteristic is followed over time to examine outcomes.
Cross-sectional survey: A study that analyses data from a population at a specific point in time to assess prevalence of outcomes or behaviours.
References
- Trends in weight gain recorded in English primary care before and during the Coronavirus-19 pandemic: An observational cohort study using the OpenSAFELY platform. PLOS Medicine (2024).
- Effects of COVID-19 Home Confinement on Eating Behaviour and Physical Activity: Results of the ECLB-COVID19 International Online Survey. Nutrients (2020).
- Considerable decreased fruits and snack consumption in Iran population during COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-sectional web-based survey National Food and Nutrition Surveillance. Agriculture & Food Security (2023).
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