Changes in dietary habits during Covid-19 lockdown in Egypt: the Egyptian COVIDiet study
Metadatos
Afficher la notice complèteEditorial
Springer Nature
Materia
COVID-19 Diet Egypt Physical Activity Mediterranean diet
Date
2023-05-25Referencia bibliográfica
Abdelkawy, K., Elbarbry, F., El-masry, S.M. et al. Changes in dietary habits during Covid-19 lockdown in Egypt: the Egyptian COVIDiet study. BMC Public Health 23, 956 (2023). [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15777-7]
Résumé
Purpose COVID-19 lockdown changed social habits and lifestyle, including dietary habits, of people worldwide.
However, limited information is available about these changes in Egypt. This cross-sectional study investigates the
effects of COVID-19 lockdown on dietary habits among the Egyptian populations.
Methods An online questionnaire, based on sociodemographic data and dietary adherence in accordance with the
validated PREDIMED MedDiet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), was used all over the Egyptian governorates. The dietary
changes were statistically evaluated for significance in relation to age, gender, body mass index (BMI), education level
and governorates.
Results A total of 1010 participants (76% aged below 36 years, 77% female, 22% obese, and 62% universitylevel
education) answered the questionnaire. Respondents ≤ 20 years had a significant increase in weight and
consumption of carbonated beverages, commercial pastries, fried and fast food. Egyptians > 50 years old had a
significant decrease in physical activity. Underweight people (less than 3% of participants) increased their fast food
intake with a prominent rise in weight. However, obese people increased cooking frequency and increased eating
times with a decrease in physical activity. Male participants reported increased intake of carbonated beverages and
fast food, while female participants increased the intake of homemade pastries with a significant decrease in physical
activity. Approximately 50% of participants with postgraduate education reported decreased intake of fast food
and carbonated beverages as well as decreased body weight. Residents of Cairo showed a significant increase in
vegetable intake, and fried food intake with a decrease in seafood consumption. Participants from the Delta region
had a significant increase in pastries intake.
Conclusion The findings of this study explored the need for increasing awareness about healthy lifestyle in future
lockdown periods.