ImpactofNationwideLockdownsResultingfrom theFirstWaveoftheCOVID-19PandemiconFood Intake,EatingBehaviors,andDietQuality: ASystematicReview

Abstract

The lockdowns resulting from the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted deeply on all life activities, including diet. We performed a systematic review to investigate changes in food intake, eating behaviors, and diet quality during lockdown as compared withbeforethelockdown.Aliteraturesearchwasperformedusing3electronicdatabasesfrominceptionuntil13June2021.Observationalstudies evaluating changes in general populations during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown were eligible. Of 1963 studies retrieved from the search strategy,95metinclusioncriteria(85inadults,10inchildren/adolescents),andthemajoritywereofhighquality(72.6%).Mostofthestudieswere web-basedsurveysusingconveniencesampling,mainlyfocusedonvariationsintheconsumptionoffoodsandeatingbehaviorsduringlockdown, whereas only 15 studies analyzed diet quality through dietary indices. On the basis of the definition of a healthful diet as reflected by a traditional Mediterranean diet, an increase in recommended foods such as fruit and vegetables, legumes, cereals, and olive oil was observed, although a sharp decrease in fish intake and an increase in dairy products were documented. Accordingly, a reduction in foods that should be eaten less frequentlywasreported—namely,redandprocessedmeat.However,ahigherconsumptionofunhealthyfoods(e.g.,snacksandsweets)wasalso observed.ResultsindicatedimproveddietqualityinEurope,especiallyamongMediterraneancountries,withtheexceptionofFrance,whileaswitch to poor nutrient patterns was observed in Colombia and Saudi Arabia. Analyses of eating behaviors suggest an increase in food intake, number of daily meals, and snacking. In conclusion, changes in intake of major food groups, apart from fish intake, were in line with the definition of a traditional Mediterranean diet, indicating a consistent moderate improvement in dietary habits worldwide. This review protocol was registered at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/asCRD42020225292