Patterns of Change in Dietary Habits and Physical Activity during Lockdown in Spain Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Lockdown due to COVID-19 influenced food habits and lifestyles with potential negative health impact. This study aims to identify patterns of change in eating habits and physical activity during COVID-19 lockdown in Spain and to identify associations with sociodemographic factors and usual habits. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1155 adults recruited online to answer a 10-section questionnaire. The protocol assessed usual diet by means of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, usual physical activity (PA) and supplement use, dietary changes, sedentary time, PA, exposure to sunlight, sleep quality, and smoking during confinement. Patterns of dietary change were identified by factor analysis. Factor scores were included in cluster analysis together with change in PA. Results: Six patterns of dietary change were identified that together with PA changes during lockdown defined three clusters of lifestyle change: a cluster less active, a more active cluster, and a third cluster as active as usual. People who were usually less active were more likely to be classified in the cluster that increased physical activity in confinement. Scores of the Healthy Mediterranean-Style dietary pattern were higher in this group. Conclusions: Different patterns of change in lifestyles in confinement suggest the need to tailor support and advice to different population groups.

Composition and Nutritional Quality of the Diet in Spanish Households during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Appetizer purchases nearly doubled between January (12.8 g/person/day) and April 2020 (22.1 g/person/day), in contrast to the same period of 2019, when they remained constant (January 12.2 g and April 13.8 g/person/day). An increase in the consumption of appetizers was also observed in other Spanish studies carried out during the lockdown [ 19 ], as well as in other countries such as Poland [ 31 ], Italy [ 12 ] or France [ 32 ], although other studies found no change or even decreases [ 33 ]. This increment in the purchase of appetizers is probably due to the desire to continue with some socialization habits that people did outdoors before the pandemic [ 28 ].…”

“…Changes in eating habits were also observed in other European countries, such as Italy [ 11 , 12 , 13 ], Poland [ 14 , 15 ], Denmark [ 16 ], Germany, Slovenia [ 8 ], Ireland and Great Britain [ 17 ]. Although the reasons for these changes are still not fully understood, some authors have suggested that personal characteristics may modulate them, shaping different patterns of change [ 18 , 19 ].…”

Multiplying effects of COVID‐19 lockdown on metabolic risk and fatty liver

“…Finally, the possibility exists that the main sampling method employed in the present study (ie web‐based questionnaire) has generated biased results, which can be only representative of people using social networks, rather than of the general public. Web‐based questionnaires, however, have been largely used to assess various health effects linked with the lockdown in European countries 41,42,52‐59 . In addition, a recent study exploring the psychological impact of the pandemic and lockdown measures in subjects from seven different countries showed that a moderate use of the social networks (ie 1‐2 hours per day) was linked with less negative effects, as compared with excessive use or no use at all.…”

Anxiety and Gastrointestinal Symptoms Related to COVID-19 during Italian Lockdown

“…Some recent studies carried out in different countries have reported modification in alimentary profiles associated with the lockdown. In particular, increased consumption of foods with high sugar content, such as chocolate and salty snacks, has been reported [32,33]. The possible explanation of these alimentary regimen changes can be explained to the increased levels of anxiety and the difficulties to find open grocery stores close to home [34].…”