Changes in dietary habits during the COVID-19 pandemic: epidemiological survey based on online questionnaire in a sample of Greek population

Background: The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 and the outset of quarantine affected all people’s daily life and changed their lifestyle and the dietary habits.

Aim: The investigation of the nutritional changes associated with socio-demographic characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece.

Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted on December of 2020, through the process of anonymous questionnaires in which participated 2135 individuals, both men and women above the age of 17 in Greece.

Results: The 79.6% of the people responded stated that they observed a change in their dietary habits. These people were mainly women of a younger age and with a higher educational status. On total, 36,3% of the participants declared that these changes led them towards healthier dietary choices. When the analysis was mostly focused on those with an average, great or greater total nutritional change, the percentages of the respondents which followed healthier dietary were 40.1%, 34% and 45.2% respectively (p<0.001).

Conclusions: The lifestyle change during the pandemic seems that has led on a change towards healthier dietary habits in a remarkable percentage of the participants. Maybe this can be considered as one of the few positive impacts of this pandemic in the country.

Keywords: Dietary habits, COVID-19, cross-sectional study, epidemiology