Perceived impact of quarantine period on food craving, power of food, and the Mediterranean Diet: The dark side of pandemic fear

This study was carried out to determine the effect of fear the pandemic on excessive food cravings, the strength of food and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in adults during the quarantine period. Data were collected on a total of 1117 adults, 870 women and 247 men, aged between 19 and 65 years, using a document to obtain general information, as well as employing anthropometric measurements and questions about health information. The Food Craving Scale (FCQ), the Power of Food Scale (PFS), the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale (MEDAS), the COVID-19 Fear Scale, and the Perception and Attitude About COVID-19 Scale were also adopted in the survey. Fear of COVID-19 score (F = 20.17 ± 5.52, M = 17.46 ± 5.79) and Perception and Attitude about COVID-19 scores were higher in females (169.55 ± 15.86) than in males (165.02 ± 16.51) (p < 0.001). A significant positive relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) with Food Craving (r = 0.182, p < 0.001), Power of Food (r = 0.083, p = 0.005), and COVID-19 Perception of Control (r = 0.074, p = 0.013) was detected. Mediterranean Diet Adherence showed a considerable positive correlation with age (r = 0.070, p = 0.020). Whilst BMI (β = 0.315) value affects excessive food cravings most, this value is identified by fear of COVID-19 (β = 0.174), an education level (β = 0.063), gender (β = −0.145) and age (β = −0.171) respectively. The quarantine period, which has various consequences vis-à-vis both social and economic aspects, also has a great impact on human health. That said, social isolation and distance cause sudden changes in the lives of individuals during the pandemic. In order to keep public health at the highest level in such cases, prospective studies are called for not only in the field of medicine and biological sciences but also on social and behavioral issues such as nutritional habits and lifestyle. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

COVID-19 Stress (Traumatic Symptoms, Compulsive Checking, Xenophobia, and Danger & Contamination) and Alcohol Use Uniquely Explain State Alcohol Cravings.

Stressful events may lead to the consumption of alcohol as a self-medicating and coping strategy. The self-medication hypothesis and addiction loop model served as the theoretical frameworks to understand how various COVID-19 pandemic stressors serve as risks for alcohol usage and state alcohol cravings. The study hypothesized that higher COVID-19 stressors (past month) would predict higher alcohol use (past month), and both were hypothesized to uniquely explain stronger alcohol cravings (state). Adult alcohol users (N = 366) participated in this cross-sectional study. Respondents completed measures of the COVID Stress Scales (socioeconomic, xenophobia, traumatic symptoms, compulsive checking, and danger & contamination), drink frequency and drink quantity, and state alcohol cravings (Alcohol Urge Questionnaire and Desires for Alcohol Questionnaire). Results from a structural equation model involving latent factors determined that higher pandemic stress explained greater alcohol use, and both factors uniquely contributed to stronger state alcohol cravings. A structural equation model premised on specific measures revealed that higher xenophobia stress, higher traumatic symptoms stress, higher compulsive checking stress, and lower danger & contamination stress uniquely predicted drink quantity, but not drink frequency. Furthermore, greater drink quantity and drink frequency independently predicted stronger state alcohol cravings. The findings recognize that pandemic stressors operate as cue-induced triggers for alcohol use and cravings. The COVID-19 stressors identified in this study could be targeted in interventions based on the addiction loop model designed to mitigate the effects of stress cues on alcohol use and present cravings for alcohol.

Feasibility of acceptance-based health coaching targeting food cravings in pregnancy

Excess gestational weight gain (GWG) is the leading high-risk condition in pregnancy in the United States and associated with a variety of poor delivery and health outcomes for the mother and infant. The majority of interventions addressing diet and physical activity in pregnancy have at best small effects on weight gain and pregnancy health outcomes. Past studies on weight loss in non-pregnant samples have demonstrated the utility of addressing psychological factors to modify eating behaviors. Currently, there is a lack of research to evaluate the efficacy of targeting psychological factors to improve cognitive and affective coping skills when attempting to facilitate health behavioral change specifically in pregnancy. Food cravings, an affective-laden cognitive experience, have been shown to account for over 30% of the variance in excess GWG and could therefore serve as useful targets for weight management among women in the perinatal period. The current studies sought to determine the acceptability and feasibility of an acceptance-based health coaching workshop targeting food cravings in pregnancy via community-based recruitment. Feasibility was addressed through examining the recruitment process, resources, retention rates, and measurement burden. Acceptability was evaluated through measures of credibility and expectancy and perceptions of appropriateness and utility of the intervention. Study 1 examined concurrent and retrospective acceptability for pregnant women while study 2 addressed prospective acceptability, with pregnant women and perinatal providers as identified stakeholders. Pregnant women in study 1 (n =4) were recruited through various sites in the community and provided detailed feedback on the proposed intervention. Recruitment for study 2 was conducted online in response to restrictions placed by the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 47) and sought to address limitations that arose in study 1. Pregnant women in study 1 conducted a pre- and post-intervention assessment battery including measures of food cravings, eating patterns, thought suppression, acceptance and willingness, and obsessive- compulsive aspects of eating. Pregnant women and perinatal providers in study 2 completed a series of questions developed by study coordinators to assess acceptability and perceived need of the proposed intervention. Results from study 1 showed that the proposed intervention was generally feasible and acceptable. Measures of feasibility showed treatment retention as adequate, and measurements were generally appropriate and minimally burdensome. Participants deemed the intervention credible for coping with food cravings and expected the skills learned to be helpful in the future. Recruitment for the intervention was a major barrier, with attempts to connect with sites in the community proving to be difficult. Study 2 provided some understanding related to issues with recruitment in study 1. Specifically, pregnant women preferred to participate in this intervention at their Ob/Gyn's office and overwhelmingly stated that having the time to participate would be a major barrier. Lack of sufficient responses prevented us from reaching saturation in the sample of perinatal providers, but preliminary evidence suggests that they appeared willing to refer their patients to this workshop. Overall, the proposed acceptance- based health coaching study targeting food cravings in pregnancy appeared feasible, and future research should examine the efficacy of the proposed intervention in preventing excess GWG and associated adverse health outcomes on a larger scale. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

GLP1 analogues among patients with overweight or obesity during lockdown

Background and objectives One of the potential negative effects of a lockdown are changes in dietary and lifestyle patterns, which can lead to weight gain. Our objective was to assess the changes on dietary habits and eating patterns in a lockdown situation and their impact on weight. We aimed to determine whether the treatment with GLP1 analogues (aGLP1) could impact on these parameters. Material and methods 100 overweight/obese patients were consecutively recruited for a review at the end of the lockdown. A structured interview was designed to see changes in dietary habits, routines and exercise. Results 52% patients gained weight during lockdown. The percentage of subjects with an active history of depression or anxiety was higher among the group of patients who gained weight. The percentage of patients who worsened their hyperphagia was higher in those who gained weight (71.2% vs 10.6%;P < .0001);similar results were observed with binge eating (92% vs 10.6%;P < .0001) and cravings, both sweet and salty (69.2% vs 21.3% and 69.2% vs 14.9%;P < .0001 and P < .0001 respectively). Of the 48 patients who did not gain weight, 30 were under aGLP1 treatment (61.7%). The worsening of abnormal eating patterns was lower among patients treated with aGLP-1. Conclusions A lockdown is a vulnerable period to gain weight, especially in those patients with a psychopathological history. aGLP1 manage to control emotional eating, making them a valuable therapeutic option. Resumen Antecedentes y objetivos Uno de los potenciales efectos negativos de un confinamiento son los cambios en los patrones dietéticos y de estilo de vida, que pueden conllevar a una ganancia de peso. El objetivo fue ver los cambios sobre los hábitos higiénico-dietéticos y de patrones de ingesta en una situación de confinamiento y el impacto sobre el peso. Asimismo, ver si el estar bajo tratamiento con análogos de GLP1 (aGLP1) modificó estos parámetros. Material y métodos Se reclutaron de forma consecutiva 100 pacientes con sobrepeso/obesidad que acudieron a revisión al finalizar el confinamiento. Se diseñó una entrevista estructurada para ver los cambios en los hábitos dietéticos, rutinas y ejercicio. Resultados El 52% pacientes ganaron peso durante el confinamiento. El porcentaje de sujetos con historia activa de depresión o ansiedad fue superior entre el grupo de pacientes que ganó peso. El porcentaje de pacientes que empeoraron su hiperfagia ansiosa fue superior en aquellos que ganaron peso (71,2% vs 10,6%;P < ,0001);lo mismo ocurrió con los atracones (92% vs 10,6%;P < ,0001) y los cravings, dulces y salados (69,2% vs 21,3% y 69,2% vs 14,9%;P < ,0001 y P < ,0001 respectivamente). De los 48 pacientes que no ganaron peso, 30 estaban bajo tratamiento con aGLP1 (61,7%). El empeoramiento de los patrones anómalos de ingesta fue inferior entre los pacientes bajo tratamiento con aGLP-1. Conclusiones Un confinamiento es un período vulnerable para ganar peso, especialmente en aquellos pacientes con antecedentes psicopatológicos. Los aGLP1 consiguen controlar la ingesta emocional convirtiéndolos en una opción terapéutica valiosa.

Factors of Negative Affect in Elderly Patients With Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become the greatest public health emergency and has attracted global attention. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the negative affect (NA) of elderly patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) has also become a more serious public concern. The current study aims to clarify the NA and its influencing factors in elderly patients with SUDs during the pandemic. Methods: Two psychiatrists conducted semi-structured interviews with 77 SUD patients aged above 50 years to collect their demographical information and certain drug use characteristics. Barratt Impulse Scale and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale were used to obtain information about patients' self-reported impulsivity and NA. Results: Univariate linear regression analysis showed that NA was positively correlated with the frequency of drug use, type of SUDs, cravings during COVID-19, and impulsivity. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that being female, higher frequency of drug use, stronger cravings, and greater impulsiveness jointly accounted for the variation of NA in elderly patients with SUDs. Conclusions: This study confirmed that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, gender, frequency of drug use, cravings, and impulsivity were associated with NA in elderly patients with SUDs. This study provided a theoretical basis for clinicians to reduce the patients' NA.

COVID-19 Lockdown and Changes of the Dietary Pattern and Physical Activity Habits in a Cohort of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

The COVID-19 lockdown clearly affected the lifestyle of the population and entailed changes in their daily habits, which involved potential health consequences, especially on patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to examine the impact of the lockdown caused by COVID-19 pandemic on both nutrition and exercise habits, as well as the psychological effects in patients with T2DM, compared to their usual diet and physical activity level previous to the complete home confinement. We also intended to analyse any potential variables that may have influenced these lifestyle modifications. A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Food Craving Questionnaire-State (FCQ-S) and Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait (FCQ-T) were used. Our results showed an increase in vegetable, sugary food and snack consumption. An association between levels of foods cravings and snack consumption was also found. Data also showed a high percentage of physical inactivity before the COVID-19 lockdown, which was exacerbated during the home confinement. These findings emphasise the great importance to do further research with larger study samples to analyse and explore dietary habits and to develop public health policies to promote a healthy lifestyle in terms of diet and physical activity in these patients, especially after this strict period of lockdown.