Impacts of COVID-19 on Nutritional Intake in Rural China: Panel Data Evidence

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced risks and challenges to global food and nutrition security. In this paper, we examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nutritional intake of China’s rural residents using panel data and a fixed effects model. The data were collected in 2019 and 2020 and covered nine provinces and 2631 households in rural China. The results reveal that an increase of 100 confirmed cases in a county resulted in a 1.30% (p < 0.01), 1.42% (p < 0.01), 1.65% (p < 0.01), and 1.15% (p < 0.01) decrease in per capita intake of dietary energy, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, respectively. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant and negative effect on dietary macronutrient intake in the low-income group at the 5% level of significance. Our study indicates that the potential insufficient nutrition situation, nutritional imbalance, and dietary imbalance of low-income rural residents should be addressed appropriately.

The effectiveness of COVID–19 vaccination against all–cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: The observation during the initial period of the cancellation of the “Dynamic Zero Policy” in mainland China

“…There were other reasons for the higher mortality in rural areas, such as nutrient intake. Data collected in rural China revealed that an increase of 100 confirmed cases in a county resulted in a 1.30%, 1.42%, 1.65%, and 1.15% decrease in per capita intake of dietary energy, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, respectively [24] . Patient with T2DM who coexisted with CVD and DN, probably had difficulties in glycemic control or progress to a serious state, and subsequently led to they tend to the hesitancy of vaccination and impair the immune defense.…”

Comparing food consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of household income and expenditure survey data in Iran

“…Based on our findings, the COVID-19 pandemic could have different effects on energy and macronutrient intake, which could be due to changes in food consumption patterns as a result of the pandemic [ 53 ]. Since meat and grains are sources of protein and carbohydrates in the diet of Iranians [ 22 , 54 ], protein consumption increased due to the increase in meat consumption in urban and rural areas, and changes in carbohydrate consumption were due to changes in grain consumption in urban and rural areas.…”

“…Our findings showed that the pandemic could have different effects on energy and macronutrient intake in SES categories, which could be due to changes in food consumption patterns as a result of the pandemic [ 53 ]. Also, studies reported that food consumption decreased during the pandemic [ 16 , 53 ], which could explain the decrease in energy in different SES categories.…”

“…Our findings showed that the pandemic could have different effects on energy and macronutrient intake in SES categories, which could be due to changes in food consumption patterns as a result of the pandemic [ 53 ]. Also, studies reported that food consumption decreased during the pandemic [ 16 , 53 ], which could explain the decrease in energy in different SES categories. In addition, a study in Iran, like our study, showed that the situation of food consumption was affected by the epidemic of COVID-19, which could be due to the limitation of transportation, disruption in the cycle of food production and supply [ 47 ].…”

Shrinking Working-Age Population and Food Demand: Evidence from Rural China

“…The dataset included 16,613 rural households from eight provinces (Hebei, Jilin, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Yunnan, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang), 30 counties, and 295 villages ( Figure 1 ). The data recorded the food consumption and food expenditure of the sampled households over a whole year [ 51 , 52 ].…”