Change in eating habits during the COVID-19 confinement

ABSTRACT

COVID confinement measures during the pandemic have changed our daily lives. A number of researchers have established an association between the measures imposed and the reinforcement of negative eating habits. This is also a major topic in the recommendations of the World Health Organization to address the psychological impact of health restrictions. The current study is aimed to describe the change in eating habits and behavior as a consequence of the imposed COVID confinement among the elderly population in Bulgaria. In addition, it is intended to identify potential social factors associated with such changes. In the period 1-7 February, 2021, a cross-sectional online study among adults took place. In the analysis 900 respondents were included. Among the respondents with an observed change in eating behavior, the most common manifestation was an increase in the intake of bakery and confectionery products n=310 (34.44%), and an increase in the number of snacks n = 287 (31.89%). The univariate regression model found an association between female sex (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.087-1.887, p = 0.01), age under 30 (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.33-2.35, p < 0.001), switching to a remote electronic environment (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1,495-2,559, p < 0.001) and lower level of education (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1,200-2.044, p = 0.001) with worsening eating behavior. These observations can be used to integrate planned and targeted health-promotion policies in synchrony with already known epidemic countermeasures.