The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Food Security of UK Adults Aged 20–65 Years (COVID-19 Food Security and Dietary Assessment Study)

Abstract

The first UK lockdown greatly impacted the food security status of UK adults. This study set out to establish if food procurement was adapted differently for different income groups and if this impacted dietary intakes disproportionately. Adults (n = 515) aged 20–65 years participated in an online survey with 56 completing a 3–4 day diet diary. Food availability was a significant factor in the experience of food insecurity. Similar proportions of food secure and food insecure adapted food spend during lockdown, spending similar amounts. Food insecure (n = 85, 18.3%) had a 10.5% lower income and the money spent on food required a greater proportion of income. Access to food was the biggest driver of food insecurity but monetary constraint was a factor for the lowest income group. The relative risk of food insecurity increased by 0.07-fold for every 1% increase in the proportion of income spent on food above 10%. Micronutrient intakes were low compared to the reference nutrient intake (RNI) for most females, with riboflavin being 36% lower in food insecure groups (p = 0.03), whilst vitamin B12 was 56% lower (p = 0.057) and iodine 53.6% lower (p = 0.257) these were not significant. Coping strategies adopted by food insecure groups included altering the quantity and variety of fruit and vegetables which may have contributed to the differences in micronutrients.

Métodos De Avaliação Nutricional Em Pacientes Diagnosticados Com Covid-19

“…Verificou-se que o diário alimentar é um método utilizado para a população em geral durante o cenário da pandemia da COVID-19 para rastreio de desejos alimentares, frequência e dificuldade de resistir a estes desejos, bem como estados emocionais relacionados aos desejos (DEVONPORT et al, 2022). O diário alimentar também já foi utilizado para verificar sinais de insegurança alimentar de uma amostra de indivíduos do Reino Unido (THOMAS et al, 2022).…”

Evaluating the independent contribution of food insecurity from financial insecurity and economic disadvantage on mental health: Evidence from the first UK Covid-19 lockdown.

“…For example, people who self-identi ed as isolating at this time were at higher risk of food insecurity over and above typical risk factors for food insecurity (1). Lockdowns also led to job losses and income reductions (1), also evidenced by the large increase in Universal Credit applications over the rst UK lockdown (4).…”

“…However, in the context of limited food supplies, shielding restrictions and newly generated economic uncertainty, food insecurity may also have extended to more a uent groups, i.e., those who would not normally experience food insecurity. Indeed, one study found that the rst UK lockdown affected food access across all socioeconomic groups (4). In contrast, prior to the pandemic, research showed that food insecurity was concentrated among those in the lowest socio-economic groups (8, 9).…”