Changes in eating habits and lifestyles in Peruvian population during social isolation by the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: The COVID 19 pandemic caused that some governments have implemented house confinement measures with probable consequences on lifestyle, particularly affecting eating habits, physical activity, sleep quality, and mental health. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of lifestyles, physical activity and sleep characteristics, as well as changes in eating habits in the Peruvian population during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A Cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. We analyzed adults from Peru between July to August 2020 based on an online self-administered questionnaire divided into sociodemographic, anthropometrics and COVID 19 diagnostic reported, lifestyle habits and frequency of consumption of foods. Findings: During confinement by COVID-19, 1176 participants were studied, 39% were student, 37.5% were workers and 46% were assert not to work. The population asserted gain weight (1 to 3 Kg) and 35.7% were overweight. The lifestyles habits showed that 54.8% affirmed to doing physical activity and a large proportion (37.2%) asserted sleep less. The Peruvian population presented a main feeding patter of breakfast (95.7%), lunch (97.5%), dinner (89.1%) and brunch (44.9%). Likewise, feeding habits before and during COVID-19 pandemic showed that vegetables (OR:1.56, CI95% 1.21 200), fruit (OR: 1.42, CI95% 1.10 1.81), legumes (OR:1.67, CI95% 1.23 2.28) and eggs (OR: 2.00, CI95% 1.52 2.65) presented significantly consumption increase during social isolation, while bakery products (OR: 0.74, CI95% 0.56 0.97), meat, snack, refreshment and fast-food decrease consumption. Other food no significant differences were presented. Conclusion: This study in a Peruvian population showed an important frequency of overweight and sleep disorders. There was a slight increase in physical activity despite the social isolation measures and an increase in health eating habits, nevertheless a majority reported gaining weight.

Impact of Nationwide Lockdowns Resulting from the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Intake, Eating Behaviors, and Diet Quality: A Systematic Review

“…Sharp changes were observed also for legumes, with 17 studies registering increased consumption from 10.9% to 21.9% ( 4 , 25 , 26 , 33 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 45 , 60 , 65 , 76 , 86 , 89 , 90 , 95 , 96 , 111 ); in contrast, a reduction from 9.9% to 25.9% was observed in only 4 of the included studies ( 22 , 59 , 82 , 99 ). An increase in red and processed meat consumption from 20.0% to 51.1% was reported by 14 investigations ( 4 , 22 , 31 , 33 , 35 , 38 , 43 , 45 , 61 , 62 , 77 , 95 , 96 , 113 ), whereas 17 studies pointed to a decreasing consumption from 6.7% to 24.4% ( 20 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 32 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 59 , 60 , 63 , 65 , 76 , 78 , 90 , 110 , 111 ). Olive oil was consistently found to be increased from 12.4% to 12.6% in all studies addressing this issue ( 25 , 33 , 60 , 65 , 111 ) As reported by 19 studies ( 4 , 20 , 22 , 25 ,…”

“…Studies were mostly carried out in Europe, with the highest number recorded in Italy ( 4 , 20–30 ) and Spain ( 31–37 ) followed by Poland ( 38–43 ), France ( 44–48 ), the United Kingdom ( 49–53 ), Belgium ( 54 , 55 ), Greece ( 56 , 57 ), The Netherlands ( 58 ), Denmark ( 59 ), Croatia ( 60 ), Romania ( 61 ), Albania ( 62 ), Lithuania ( 63 ), Scotland ( 64 ), Cyprus ( 65 ), and Germany ( 66 ). Outside Europe, other surveys were conducted in Kuwait ( 67 ), the United Arab Emirates ( 68 , 69 ), Saudi Arabia ( 70–73 ), Jordan ( 74 , 75 ), Iraqi Kurdistan ( 76 ), the United States ( 77–80 ), Canada ( 81 ), Brazil ( 82–84 ), Mexico ( 85 ), Colombia ( 86 ), Chile ( 87 ), Ecuador ( 88 ), Uruguay ( 89 ), Peru ( 90 ), Zimbabwe ( 91 ), China ( 92–95 ), India ( 96 , 97 ), Nepal ( 98 ), New Zealand ( 99 ), and Australia ( 100 , 101 ). Other studies were conducted as international surveys ( 102–113 ).…”

“…Concerning quality assessment, 26 studies out of 95 ( 20 , 27 , 30 , 38 , 40 , 43 , 51 , 61 , 62 , 71–73 , 75 , 83 , 84 , 90 , 91 , 95 , 97 , 98 , 100 , 102 , 104 , 106 , 112 , 113 ) were considered of low quality (27.4%), having a JBI score <70% ( Supplemental Tables 4 and 5 ).…”

“…With regard to changes in food intake, increased consumption of fruit and vegetables was reported by 31 studies ( 20 , 22 , 25 , 27 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 45 , 49 , 52 , 54 , 60–63 , 65 , 71 , 76 , 83 , 87 , 89 , 90 , 92 , 94–96 , 103 , 111 , 113 ), whereas a decrease was found in 8 studies ( 59 , 73 , 77 , 82 , 86 , 91 , 99 , 110 ). However, some ( 4 , 26 , 81 ) found an increase only in vegetable consumption, as opposed to a decrease in fruit intake, while a French study ( 44 ) found a decrease in fresh fruit and vegetable consumption but an increase in canned and frozen vegetables.…”

“…Unhealthy foods, such as fast food, junk food, and processed food in general, including energy and sweetened drinks, were likely consumed less during the pandemic as compared with the usual intake in 14 studies ( 4 , 32 , 42 , 56 , 67 , 68 , 78 , 89 , 90 , 96 , 97 , 104 , 106 , 111 ), although 33 studies found an increase ( 20–22 , 26 , 29 , 31 , 33–35 , 40 , 45 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 52 , 54 , 55 , 58 , 62 , 65 , 69 , 71 , 76 , 77 , 79 , 82–84 , 92 , 95 , 99 , 102 , 110 ). In addition, some investigations ( 23 , 27 , 38 , 41 , 43 , 44 , 59 , 60 , 63 , 73 , 86 , 113 ) reported both an increase and a lower intake of unhealthy foods.…”