How has the pandemic influenced our food and drink consumption?
The lockdown imposed in many countries across the world due to COVID-19 has caused several lifestyle changes, here's what researchers have to say about it.
The lockdown imposed in many countries across the world due to COVID-19 has caused several lifestyle changes. The fact is that staying at and working from home can affect diet, food choices, and food access. The question is, to what exchange do you think your food and drink consumption behaviour has changed?
Here is what researchers have to say:
Frequency and amount of snack consumption
- One study reported that the proportion of participants who increased their sweets consumption (>50%) was higher than that of those who decreased it (<33%).
- Another study reported that the proportion of people who increased their snack consumption (18.7%) was lower than that of those who decreased it (23.6%).
Alcohol consumption
- In three separate studies, authors reported that the proportion of people who had decreased their alcohol consumption (35.9%, 57.3%, and 26.6%) was higher than those who had increased it (30.8%, 10.4%, and 18.1%).
- In another study, fewer participants had decreased their alcohol consumption (10.7%) than participants who had increased it (18.1%)
Vegetable and fruit consumption
- A study reported that those who had increased their vegetable (18.5%) and fruit consumption (15.2%) were fewer than those who had decreased their vegetable (19.4%) and fruit consumption (20.1%).
- In another study, a higher proportion of participants increased their vegetable and fruit consumption (30.9%) compared to participants who had decreased their vegetable and fruit consumption (20.7%).
