Preliminary Trajectories in Dietary Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Public Health Call to Action to Face Obesity

Roberta Zupo, Fabio Castellana, Rodolfo Sardone, Annamaria Sila, Vito Angelo Giagulli, Vincenzo Triggiani, Raffaele Ivan Cincione, Gianluigi Giannelli and Giovanni De Pergola
Additional contact information
Roberta Zupo: Population Health Unit “Salus in Apulia Study”—National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy
Fabio Castellana: Population Health Unit “Salus in Apulia Study”—National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy
Rodolfo Sardone: Population Health Unit “Salus in Apulia Study”—National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy
Annamaria Sila: Population Health Unit “Salus in Apulia Study”—National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy
Vito Angelo Giagulli: Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine—Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy
Vincenzo Triggiani: Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Disease, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Raffaele Ivan Cincione: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Gianluigi Giannelli: Scientific Direction, National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy
Giovanni De Pergola: Population Health Unit “Salus in Apulia Study”—National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: The world is currently struggling to face the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), and many countries have imposed lockdowns and recommended quarantine to limit both the spread of the virus and overwhelming demands for medical care. Direct implications include the disruption of work routines, boredom, depression, increased calorie consumption, and other similar harmful effects. The present narrative review article briefly analyzes the preliminary effects of the quarantine lifestyle from the standpoint of dietary habits. In six different databases, we searched for original articles up to 10 August 2020, assessing eating habits among populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and recorded any change in the intake of major food categories, as well as changes in body weight. The research strategy yielded 364 articles, from which we selected 12 articles that fitted our goal. Our preliminary findings revealed a sharp rise of carbohydrates sources consumption, especially those with a high glycemic index (i.e., homemade pizza, bread, cake, and pastries), as well as more frequent snacks. A high consumption of fruits and vegetables, and protein sources, particularly pulses, was also recorded, although there was no clear peak of increase in the latter. Data concerning the consumption of junk foods lacked consistency, while there was a decreased alcohol intake and fresh fish/seafood consumption. As a possible connection, people gained body weight. Therefore, in the realistic perspective of a continuing global health emergency situation, timely preventive measures are needed to counteract obesity-related behaviors in the long-term, so as to prevent further health complications.

Keywords: COVID-19; diet; dietary changes; body weight; obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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