Changes in eating behaviours due to crises, disasters and pandemics: a scoping review

Hunter, Lauren; Gerritsen, Sarah; Egli, Victoria

doi:10.1108/nfs-12-2021-0385

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 71 publications

(516 reference statements)

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“…Additionally, diminished frequencies were recorded in the consumption of meat (100%) and dairy products (83%), all falling below the three-times-per-week threshold. The observed shift in food consumption patterns over time is common in post-disaster settings (Hoteit et al, 2021;Hunter et al, 2022). This emphasizes the necessity for adaptive dietary habits as households navigate varying food availability and affordability, consistent with findings in similar contexts.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Food systems under shock: the evolution of food security status of Karantina residents after the Beirut explosion

Makoukji,

Amhez,

Yehya

et al. 2024

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Robust food systems are crucial for ensuring access to affordable and nutritious food, particularly in times of crisis. Economic instability, currency devaluation, and political turmoil can disrupt food systems, leading to higher food prices, compromised nutrition, and increased vulnerability. Lebanon is a stark example of this, where a catastrophic explosion in Beirut’s Port in 2020 worsened an existing economic and humanitarian crisis. The depreciation of the Lebanese currency led to soaring food prices, impacting people’s ability to buy food, and pushing many into poverty, illustrating the significant impact of the state food systems during crises (FAO, 2021). In times of crisis, a simplified food system, relying on emergency food aid supplies, replaces conventional food system, as food aid and cash transfers become the primary source upon which the affected population depends to ensure their food security and meet their essential needs. In this article we report on research conducted between 2020 and 2022 focusing on the impacts of the Beirut explosion on food security status of the permanent residents the Karantina neighborhood—the closest residential area to the Beirut port. We surveyed 100 households chosen at random, examining shifts in food security and nutrition at three intervals: 6 months prior to the explosion, 6 months following it, and 2 years after the event. The findings revealed a sharp decline in food security and diet quality among residents in the two-year period following the explosion. The proportion of food-secure households fell from 71% to 2%, while those with acceptable food consumption decreased from 96% to 30%. Additionally, income and debt situations worsened significantly. Almost 95% of residents resorted to crisis coping strategies, such as using savings, borrowing money for food, selling furniture, withdrawing children from school, and reducing education and health expenses, rendering them highly vulnerable. Food and cash assistance were provided to all households for 6 months to one-year post-explosion, resulting in improved food security and consumption after 6 months. However, these gains diminished 2 years later, once the assistance ended, revealing a lack of resilience in the food system. In conclusion, soon after the assistance stopped, the prolonged deterioration of Lebanon’s economic situation, compounded by multiple crises, pushed these households further into poverty, exacerbating food insecurity. This research underscores the critical importance of sustained support and comprehensive economic reforms to rebuild food systems and promote nutrition resilience in crisis-affected regions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Food systems under shock: the evolution of food security status of Karantina residents after the Beirut explosion

Makoukji,

Amhez,

Yehya

et al. 2024

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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“…Our results also showed a decrease in people engaged in full-time employment among all household groups and an increase in people who did not work during lockdown. A scoping review of the impact of eating behaviors during recent crisis indicates that precarious employment is a critical factor in stress levels and negatively impacts eating behaviors ( 52 ). This is important to consider for COVID-19, as many industries shut down, and at its worst in September 2020, approx.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Household Mealtimes During the 2020 COVID-19 Lockdown in Aotearoa New Zealand: The Influence of Household Type and Psychological Distress

et al. 2022

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COVID-19 lockdown meant disruptions to daily routines for households in Aotearoa New Zealand. The research presented here investigates how mealtimes changed for people living in New Zealand during the first COVID-19 lockdown in mid-2020 and sought to determine if household composition type and psychological distress impacted the frequency of engaging in several mealtime behaviors. The COVID Kai Survey collected data using an anonymous, online survey and asked questions on sociodemographic characteristics including household composition, frequency of engaging in different mealtime behaviors before and during lockdown, and psychological distress, which was measured using the Kessler 6 screening tool. The findings of this study shows an increase in the perceived importance of mealtimes (n = 807, 26.9% before lockdown, n = 1,154, 38.5% during lockdown) and an increase in the proportion of the survey respondents who stated that they frequently ate meals at the dinner table (n = 1,343, 44.8% before lockdown, n = 1,481, 49.4% during lockdown). There was a decrease, across all household composition types, in the proportion of respondents who ate out frequently at a restaurant or café (n = 878, 29.3% before lockdown, n = 5, 0.2% during lockdown, P < 0.001). The use of meal kits, e-dining, and eating meals in front of screens is also presented and discussed. All results are discussed with reference to Aotearoa New Zealand’s stringent lockdown restrictions. Respondents who experienced psychological distress during lockdown were 1.47 times more likely to consider mealtimes an important part of their day and respondents living in households with one adult and at least one child who also experienced psychological distress were 5.95 times more likely to eat dinner at the dinner table than those who did not report psychological distress. Findings of this study further the understanding of the wider societal impact of COVID-19 lockdown on everyday life.

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“…The risk of food insecurity is known to increase following natural disasters (e.g. hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, winter storms) due to the destruction of infrastructure and interruptions in the food supply chain (56) . A limited number of research studies focus on the impact natural disasters have on college students' food access, and there is even more limited research on how campuses respond to students' food security needs during or immediately after a natural disaster.…”

Section: Current Status Of Knowledge and Research Gapsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advancing college food security: priority research gaps

et al. 2023

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Despite over a decade of both quantitative and qualitative studies, food insecurity among United States college/university students remains a pervasive problem within higher education. The purpose of this perspective piece was to highlight research gaps in the area of college food insecurity and provide rationale for the research community to focus on these gaps going forward. A group of food insecurity researchers from a variety of higher education institutions across the United States identified five thematic areas of research gaps: screening and estimates of food insecurity; longitudinal changes in food insecurity; impact of food insecurity on broader health and academic outcomes; evaluation of impact, sustainability, and cost effectiveness of existing programs and initiatives; and state and federal policies and programs. Within these thematic areas, 19 specific research gaps were identified that have limited or no peer-reviewed, published research. These research gaps result in a limited understanding of the magnitude, severity, and persistence of college food insecurity, the negative short- and long-term impacts of food insecurity on health, academic performance, and overall college experience, and effective solutions and policies to prevent or meaningfully address food insecurity among college students. Research in these identified priority areas may help accelerate action and interdisciplinary collaboration to alleviate food insecurity among college students and play a critical role in informing the development or refinement of programs and services that better support college student food security needs.

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Changes in eating behaviours due to crises, disasters and pandemics: a scoping review

Cited by 10 publications

References 71 publications

Food systems under shock: the evolution of food security status of Karantina residents after the Beirut explosion

Food systems under shock: the evolution of food security status of Karantina residents after the Beirut explosion

Household Mealtimes During the 2020 COVID-19 Lockdown in Aotearoa New Zealand: The Influence of Household Type and Psychological Distress

Advancing college food security: priority research gaps

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