TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors of COVID-19-related perceived improvements in dietary health
T2 - Results from a us cross-sectional study
AU - Cosgrove, Kelly
AU - Wharton, Christopher
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by a grant from ‘The Global KAITEKI Center’, a research alliance between Arizona State University and The KAITEKI Institute of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (Grant #FP0009561 to CW).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in substantial lifestyle changes. No US study has identified predictors of perceived dietary healthfulness changes during the pandemic period. This study included analyses of lifestyle and dietary healthfulness changes using 958 survey responses from US primary household food purchasers. Information was collected related to demographics, COVID-19-related household changes, and health-related habits before and during the pandemic. Binary logistic regression identified predictors of perceived increase in dietary healthfulness during the pandemic period. Overall, 59.8%, 16.4%, and 23.4% of participants reported that their eating habits likely changed, may have changed, and likely did not change, respectively. Of the participants whose dietary habits likely or may have changed, 64.1%, 16.8%, and 19% reported healthier, neither healthier nor less healthy, and less healthy eating habits, respectively. COVID-19-related income loss, more meals consumed with household members in front of the television, an increase in food advertisement exposure, increased perceived stress, and better perceived current health were significant predictors of a perceived increase in dietary healthfulness. Overall, dietary habits were perceived to become healthier during the pandemic. The predictors of perceived improvement in dietary healthfulness were surprising and indicate the need for further study of these factors in crisis and noncrisis situations.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in substantial lifestyle changes. No US study has identified predictors of perceived dietary healthfulness changes during the pandemic period. This study included analyses of lifestyle and dietary healthfulness changes using 958 survey responses from US primary household food purchasers. Information was collected related to demographics, COVID-19-related household changes, and health-related habits before and during the pandemic. Binary logistic regression identified predictors of perceived increase in dietary healthfulness during the pandemic period. Overall, 59.8%, 16.4%, and 23.4% of participants reported that their eating habits likely changed, may have changed, and likely did not change, respectively. Of the participants whose dietary habits likely or may have changed, 64.1%, 16.8%, and 19% reported healthier, neither healthier nor less healthy, and less healthy eating habits, respectively. COVID-19-related income loss, more meals consumed with household members in front of the television, an increase in food advertisement exposure, increased perceived stress, and better perceived current health were significant predictors of a perceived increase in dietary healthfulness. Overall, dietary habits were perceived to become healthier during the pandemic. The predictors of perceived improvement in dietary healthfulness were surprising and indicate the need for further study of these factors in crisis and noncrisis situations.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Diet
KW - Health
KW - Lifestyle
KW - Nutrition
KW - United States
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108069793&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85108069793&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu13062097
DO - 10.3390/nu13062097
M3 - Article
C2 - 34205306
AN - SCOPUS:85108069793
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 13
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 6
M1 - 2097
ER -