Findings from the largest study of diet and lifestyle behaviour during COVID-19 revealed rather surprisingly that despite the sedentary lifestyle the lockdown seemed to promote, people used the opportunity to make positive changes to their diet and lifestyle.The COVID 19 pandemic has indeed had many adverse effects on people including but not limited to loss of livelihood, mental health breakdown, sudden changes to the normal way of living, and even death.However, <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/lockdown-used-unhealthy-lifestyles-healthier">this study</a> has shown that the disruption caused by lockdown restrictions inspired many people, particularly those individuals who had less healthy behaviours before the pandemic, to make improvements to their health.<h2 id="e1f98282-b469-4081-beeb-0fc94351cbc9" data-toc-id="e1f98282-b469-4081-beeb-0fc94351cbc9" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;">What prompted this study of diet and lifestyle behaviour during COVID-19?</h2>A team of King’s researchers led by Dr Sarah Berry and Professor Tim Spector, together with data scientists from ZOE carried out this study <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/lockdown-used-unhealthy-lifestyles-healthier">to understand how the pandemic has affected health behaviours.</a>Over a million participants from the ZOE COVID Symptom Study in the UK and US were asked to complete a retrospective diet and lifestyle questionnaire before (Feb 2020) and during the pandemic (July/ Sept). Responses from this survey were analysed and revealed findings that were largely contrary to the public perception of the effects of the pandemic.The study revealed that Individuals who recorded unhealthy pre-pandemic diet and health behaviours were more inclined to improve their overall diet quality and lose weight, whilst those most followed healthy pre-pandemic behaviours exhibited little change in health behaviours.Fascinating right? That’s not all.<h2 id="536df1b5-dd8a-4400-b4ef-5cfaed5a062a" data-toc-id="536df1b5-dd8a-4400-b4ef-5cfaed5a062a" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;">In what ways did the pandemic affect health behaviors according to the study?</h2>By applying a <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-179013/v1">novel health disruption index</a> that included 5 metrics: Diet Quality Score, alcohol frequency, physical activity, snacking frequency (food consumed outside of main meals), and weekday sleep duration, the study showed that two-thirds of participants experienced lifestyle and diet disruption resulting from the pandemic and this varied according to sex, age, and level of deprivation.Most enlightening of all was that disruption of health behaviours resulting from the pandemic was higher in younger females and people living in more deprived areas. Also, the magnitude of weight loss was greater than the weight gain in more disrupted individuals.<h2 id="92671122-c711-4630-b901-7cdf1ae33ddc" data-toc-id="92671122-c711-4630-b901-7cdf1ae33ddc" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;">Individual changes to health behaviors also varied greatly in the following ways:</h2><ul><li>15% of participants increased their weekday sleep while 9% decreased.</li><li>32.5% of participants increased daily fruit and vegetable intake (from 3.5 to 5.6 portions per day) compared to 22.7% of participants who decreased (from 5.6 to 3.8 portions per day).</li><li>22% of participants stated that they snacked less, while 18% increased their snacking.</li><li>32% of participants lost an average of 4.0 kg, while 34% of participants gained an average of 3.5kg.</li><li>In frequency of alcohol consumption,18% of participants reported an increase compared to 11% who decreased. However, in the amount consumed at each event, there was a decrease (14% decreasing vs 11% increasing units) which suggests that total alcohol consumption may have been unchanged.</li><li>27% of participants reported an increase in exercise, while 25% were less active.</li><li>32% of participants lost an average of 4.0 kg, compared to 34% of participants who gained an average of 3.5kg.</li></ul>The <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-179013/v1">research</a> also brings to light issues around food security. It showed that four times as many participants (5.8%) experienced decreased access to food, compared to participants (1.4%) who recorded that they had improved food access.<h2 id="c44c6fa7-6a70-4923-ac88-94d8739e9945" data-toc-id="c44c6fa7-6a70-4923-ac88-94d8739e9945" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;">Key takeaways</h2>It is evident the COVID-19 pandemic did not only have negative impacts on health behaviours. This large population-based study has revealed that the ensuing disruption due to the pandemic affected individuals very differently and it will be erroneous to adopt a general approach towards resolving issues that may have arisen due to this disruption. A more personalised approach is clearly needed while trying to influence positive health behaviour changes.<h2 id="aa3f04a3-dc49-4065-9b49-4feb5670a6b4" data-toc-id="aa3f04a3-dc49-4065-9b49-4feb5670a6b4" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;">What does this mean for you as a nutrition professional?</h2>You have to cut through the noise and personalise treatment with science. This and so much more is what we will teach you in our <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://thehealthsciencesacademy.org/nutritional-therapist-professional-diploma-level-5/">Nutritional Therapist Certification</a>. This a full certification that shows you everything you need to know about building a diet that truly serves you and your clients.<ul><li>Discover 160 superfoods that deliver the most nutrients per calorie and the functions of over 100 micronutrients</li><li>Perform client assessments and detect nutrient deficiency risks</li><li>Build personalised food plans and monitor symptom improvements</li><li>Put forward nutritional recommendations for over 40 common health conditions</li><li>Recognise the impact of food on DNA expression and learn to do a nutrient check-up</li></ul>Now, you can start this certification without paying immediately with a 7-day Free Trial!Get 24/7 access to 35 science-based lessons across 13 certifications (including this) and more.<a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://courses.thehealthsciencesacademy.org/free-nutrition-business-explorer-program-trial/?product_id=2073463">Go here now to start your 7-day Free Trial.</a>

Findings from the largest study of diet and lifestyle behaviour during COVID-19 revealed rather surprisingly.

[NEW STUDY] Did The Lockdown Encourage Healthier Habits?

What prompted this study of diet and lifestyle behaviour during COVID-19?

In what ways did the pandemic affect health behaviors according to the study?

Individual changes to health behaviors also varied greatly in the following ways:

What does this mean for you as a nutrition professional?

Explore science-based articles on nutrition, health, wellness, behaviour change, clinical practice, dietary supplements, gut health, sports nutrition, menopause, and professional development.

Nutrition Blogs | Evidence-Based Health and Nutrition Articles | THSA

Discover science-based nutrition articles, research insights, clinical practice tips, and professional development resources from THSA.

[NEW STUDY] Did The Lockdown Encourage Healthier Habits?

[NEW STUDY] Did The Lockdown Encourage Healthier Habits?

Related Posts

Is There Any Science Behind the Gluten-Free Phenomenon?

Hugs, The Ultimate Vaccine

Food Addiction vs Eating Addiction: What Is The Difference?

Are Your Snacking Habits a Lack of Self-Control, Or Something Else?

Why You Should Weigh Yourself Infrequently (And Never on a Monday)