Call for Emergency Action to Restore Dietary Diversity and Protect Global Food Systems in Times of COVID-19 and Beyond: Results from a Cross-sectional Study in 38 Countries

Overview

Journal Heliyon

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2023 Dec 4

PMID 38045218

Authors

Maha Hoteit

Reem Hoteit

Ayoub Aljawaldeh

Kathleen Van Royen

Sara Pabian

Paulien Decorte

Isabelle Cuykx

Lauranna Teunissen

Charlotte De Backer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries' societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered between April and June 2020. The study utilized a pre-tested food frequency questionnaire to explore food consumption patterns both before and during the COVID-19 periods. Additionally, the study computed Food Consumption Score (FCS) as a proxy indicator for assessing the dietary diversity of households.

Findings: This quantification of global, regional and national dietary diversity across 38 countries showed an increment in the consumption of all food groups but a drop in the intake of vegetables and in the dietary diversity. The household's food consumption scores indicating dietary diversity varied across regions. It decreased in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, including Lebanon (p < 0.001) and increased in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries including Bahrain (p = 0.003), Egypt (p < 0.001) and United Arab Emirates (p = 0.013). A decline in the household's dietary diversity was observed in Australia (p < 0.001), in South Africa including Uganda (p < 0.001), in Europe including Belgium (p < 0.001), Denmark (p = 0.002), Finland (p < 0.001) and Netherland (p = 0.027) and in South America including Ecuador (p < 0.001), Brazil (p < 0.001), Mexico (p < 0.0001) and Peru (p < 0.001). Middle and older ages [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.125-1.426] [OR = 2.5; 95 % CI = [1.951-3.064], being a woman [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.117-1.367], having a high education (p < 0.001), and showing amelioration in food-related behaviors [OR = 1.4; 95 % CI = [1.292-1.709] were all linked to having a higher dietary diversity.

Conclusion: The minor to moderate changes in food consumption patterns observed across the 38 countries within relatively short time frames could become lasting, leading to a significant and prolonged reduction in dietary diversity, as demonstrated by our findings.

References

Malta D, Szwarcwald C, Barros M, Gomes C, Machado I, Souza Junior P . The COVID-19 Pandemic and changes in adult Brazilian lifestyles: a cross-sectional study, 2020. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2020; 29(4):e2020407. DOI: 10.1590/S1679-49742020000400026. View

Skotnicka M, Karwowska K, Klobukowski F, Wasilewska E, Malgorzewicz S . Dietary Habits before and during the COVID-19 Epidemic in Selected European Countries. Nutrients. 2021; 13(5). PMC: 8156782. DOI: 10.3390/nu13051690. View

Pung C, Tan S, Tan S, Tan C . Eating Behaviors among Online Learning Undergraduates during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(23). PMC: 8657465. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312820. View

Al-Jawaldeh A, Hammerich A, Doggui R, Engesveen K, Lang K, McColl K . Implementation of WHO Recommended Policies and Interventions on Healthy Diet in the Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region: From Policy to Action. Nutrients. 2020; 12(12). PMC: 7760940. DOI: 10.3390/nu12123700. View

Gonzalez-Monroy C, Gomez-Gomez I, Olarte-Sanchez C, Motrico E . Eating Behaviour Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(21). PMC: 8582896. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111130. View

Mignogna C, Costanzo S, Ghulam A, Cerletti C, Donati M, de Gaetano G . Impact of Nationwide Lockdowns Resulting from the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Intake, Eating Behaviors, and Diet Quality: A Systematic Review. Adv Nutr. 2021; 13(2):388-423. PMC: 8755350. DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmab130. View

Paslakis G, Dimitropoulos G, Katzman D . A call to action to address COVID-19-induced global food insecurity to prevent hunger, malnutrition, and eating pathology. Nutr Rev. 2020; 79(1):114-116. PMC: 7454780. DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaa069. View

Gornicka M, Drywien M, Zielinska M, Hamulka J . Dietary and Lifestyle Changes During COVID-19 and the Subsequent Lockdowns among Polish Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey PLifeCOVID-19 Study. Nutrients. 2020; 12(8). PMC: 7468840. DOI: 10.3390/nu12082324. View

Marty L, de Lauzon-Guillain B, Labesse M, Nicklaus S . Food choice motives and the nutritional quality of diet during the COVID-19 lockdown in France. Appetite. 2020; 157:105005. PMC: 7558232. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.105005. View

10.

De Backer C, Teunissen L, Cuykx I, Decorte P, Pabian S, Gerritsen S . An Evaluation of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Perceived Social Distancing Policies in Relation to Planning, Selecting, and Preparing Healthy Meals: An Observational Study in 38 Countries Worldwide. Front Nutr. 2021; 7:621726. PMC: 7890074. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2020.621726. View

11.

Bennett G, Young E, Butler I, Coe S . The Impact of Lockdown During the COVID-19 Outbreak on Dietary Habits in Various Population Groups: A Scoping Review. Front Nutr. 2021; 8:626432. PMC: 7969646. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.626432. View

12.

Kriaucioniene V, Bagdonaviciene L, Rodriguez-Perez C, Petkeviciene J . Associations between Changes in Health Behaviours and Body Weight during the COVID-19 Quarantine in Lithuania: The Lithuanian COVIDiet Study. Nutrients. 2020; 12(10). PMC: 7599784. DOI: 10.3390/nu12103119. View

13.

Pourmotabbed A, Moradi S, Babaei A, Ghavami A, Mohammadi H, Jalili C . Food insecurity and mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health Nutr. 2020; 23(10):1778-1790. PMC: 10200655. DOI: 10.1017/S136898001900435X. View

14.

Di Renzo L, Gualtieri P, Pivari F, Soldati L, Attina A, Cinelli G . Eating habits and lifestyle changes during COVID-19 lockdown: an Italian survey. J Transl Med. 2020; 18(1):229. PMC: 7278251. DOI: 10.1186/s12967-020-02399-5. View

15.

Bakaloudi D, Jeyakumar D, Jayawardena R, Chourdakis M . The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on snacking habits, fast-food and alcohol consumption: A systematic review of the evidence. Clin Nutr. 2021; 41(12):3038-3045. PMC: 8052604. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.04.020. View

16.

Elgar F, Pickett W, Pfortner T, Gariepy G, Gordon D, Georgiades K . Relative food insecurity, mental health and wellbeing in 160 countries. Soc Sci Med. 2020; 268:113556. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113556. View

17.

Della Valle P, Mosconi G, Nucci D, Vigezzi G, Gentile L, Gianfredi V . Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet during the COVID-19 national lockdowns: a systematic review of observational studies. Acta Biomed. 2021; 92(S6):e2021440. PMC: 8851000. DOI: 10.23750/abm.v92iS6.12233. View

18.

Elsahoryi N, Al-Sayyed H, Odeh M, McGrattan A, Hammad F . Effect of Covid-19 on food security: A cross-sectional survey. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020; 40:171-178. PMC: 7533117. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.09.026. View

19.

Torero M . Without food, there can be no exit from the pandemic. Nature. 2020; 580(7805):588-589. DOI: 10.1038/d41586-020-01181-3. View