Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Led to a Less Healthy Diet?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been noticeable changes in the diet of people all around the world. Specifically, there has been a shift towards eating more unhealthy foods that are high in sugars and fats, as well as drinks of similar nature. One study in particular focused on which specific groups of people had a significant change in their consumption of unhealthy foods during the pandemic. This relates to diseases that may occur later in life as a result of an unhealthy diet, which in turn, affects how likely someone is going to get COVID-19.
Unhealthy items are described as being ultra-processed, defined as having many added sugars that increase the carbohydrate content. Usually this also includes preservatives, which are used to make food last longer. Less healthy beverages are labeled as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). These can be drinks such as sodas, smoothies, or sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade.
The main cause of the shift to unhealthy foods is stress from the pandemic itself. Overeating of unhealthy foods arose primarily from emotional stress in younger adults, and psychological stress in older adults. The stress that is experienced by those affected by the pandemic leads to the increased “want” of foods that contain higher fat and sugar contents.
There were many factors considered in the study when surveying adults about their change in eating habits throughout the pandemic. Among these factors were age groups, with the lowest age being 18 years old, body mass index, gender, race/ethnicity, education level ranging from less than high school level to graduate school, marriage status, household income, and family status, specifically if the adult surveyed has children that are less than 18 years of age.
Unhealthy items are described as being ultra-processed, defined as having many added sugars that increase the carbohydrate content. Usually this also includes preservatives, which are used to make food last longer. Less healthy beverages are labeled as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). These can be drinks such as sodas, smoothies, or sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade.
The main cause of the shift to unhealthy foods is stress from the pandemic itself. Overeating of unhealthy foods arose primarily from emotional stress in younger adults, and psychological stress in older adults. The stress that is experienced by those affected by the pandemic leads to the increased “want” of foods that contain higher fat and sugar contents.
There were many factors considered in the study when surveying adults about their change in eating habits throughout the pandemic. Among these factors were age groups, with the lowest age being 18 years old, body mass index, gender, race/ethnicity, education level ranging from less than high school level to graduate school, marriage status, household income, and family status, specifically if the adult surveyed has children that are less than 18 years of age.
Contrast between healthy, unprocessed foods and processed, sugary foods: a balance that has shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Image Source: Karolina Grabowska
In a study examining the shift in eating habits to less healthy foods, 35.7% of adults that were surveyed reported consuming more unhealthy foods, such as desserts and snacks. This result was determined to be highest in adults that were between the ages of 24-44 years, those that were female, those that are non-Hispanic black adults, those that have less than a high school level of education, those that are not married, those that are rated as obese according to their body mass index, those that have children under the age of 18, and those that have a low household income. Overall, every factor that was measured in this study was related to the change in eating habits towards unhealthier foods, except for the region in which the adults lived.
The shift to eating more unhealthy foods will cause the health of adults to decline, as they will become more likely to decrease the metabolic rate of adults. Other long-term problems that can arise from the increased intake of unhealthy foods is the development or worsening of obesity, the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and lung disease. The increased risk of such diseases can make the symptoms of COVID-19 worse as well, which puts the lives of adults at risk. Because of the current pandemic, the shift towards eating more unhealthy foods has jeopardized the health of many adults.
The shift to eating more unhealthy foods will cause the health of adults to decline, as they will become more likely to decrease the metabolic rate of adults. Other long-term problems that can arise from the increased intake of unhealthy foods is the development or worsening of obesity, the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and lung disease. The increased risk of such diseases can make the symptoms of COVID-19 worse as well, which puts the lives of adults at risk. Because of the current pandemic, the shift towards eating more unhealthy foods has jeopardized the health of many adults.
Featured Image Source: Caleb Oquendo
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