Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic-Induced Dietary and Lifestyle Changes and Their Associations with Perceived Health Status and Self-Reported Body Weight Changes in India: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic is accompanied by dramatic changes in lifestyle and dietary behaviors that can significantly influence health. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey to assess COVID-19 pandemic-induced dietary and lifestyle changes and their association with perceived health status and self-reported body weight changes among 1000 Indian adults in early 2021. Positive improvements in dietary habits, e.g., eating more nutritious (85% of participants) and home-cooked food (89%) and an increase in overall nutrition intake (79%), were observed. Sixty-five percent of participants self-reported increased oat consumption to support immunity. There were some negative changes, e.g., more binge eating (69%), eating more in between meals (67%), and increasing meal portion size (72%). Two-thirds of participants reported no change in lifestyles, whereas 21 and 23% reported an increase, and 13 and 10% reported a decrease in physical activity and sleep, respectively. Overall, 64 and 65% of participants reported an improvement in perceived health and an increase in body weight during the COVID-19 period compared to pre-COVID-19, respectively. The top motivations for improving dietary habits included improving physical and mental health and building immunity. In conclusion, the overall perceived health was improved and there was an increase in self-reported body weight in most participants during COVID-19. Diet emerged as the most crucial determinant for these changes.

Impact of Lockdown due to COVID-19 on lifestyle and diet pattern of college students of Eastern India: A cross-sectional survey

“…A review published in India emphasized lifestyle behavioral programs using e-Platform to improve the lifestyle of youth during such lockdowns [18]. There are limited studies done in India [2,[19][20][21][22] showing the pattern of diet and lifestyle change among college students as an impact of lockdown due to ongoing pandemic. Therefore, the present study aimed to check the same among college students of east India with the objectives to find out the proportion of college students having a change in lifestyle and dietary pattern before and during lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.…”

Changes in the pattern of eating habit and physical activity during the pandemic of COVID-19 in Malaysia: data from COMET-G international multi-country study

“…There were changes in body weight and eating amount in our study population, like in other studies during the COVID-19 pandemic. 14,[18][19][20] Our study showed that changes in body weight and eating habits were significantly associated with age. A study by Di Renzo et al found that younger people took more night snacks and declared increased appetite.…”

Estimates of Cardiovascular Diseases Burden Attributable to High Sodium Intake from 1990 to 2019: A Systematic Analysis of Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study

“…According to Song's prediction model, a 4.3-year delay in nalizing sodium targets in the United States may cost over 250 000 lives by 2031 [28]. For now, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only stressed the healthcare systems, but also changed lifestyles due to social isolation, including an increase in consumption of unhealthy products [29]. It is vital for policy-makers to take actions to raise awareness of salt reduction among the public as well as to maximize industry compliance with the sodium-reduction targets as soon as possible.…”