Beyond lockdowns: a systematic review of the impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on dietary pattern, physical activity, body weight, and food security

Abstract

Abstract Context COVID-19 lockdowns may have impacted dietary patterns and nutritional outcomes in many populations. Objective The aim of this review was to evaluate the impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on nutritional patterns, investigating behaviors in the periods before, during, and after lockdowns. Data Source This systematic review followed the PRISMA-P methodology. The articles included were identified by searching the key words in Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. The key words used in the search included: “COVID19” AND “diet*”, “coronavirus” AND “diet*”, “coronavirus 2” AND “diet*”, “COVID19” AND “nutri*”, “coronavirus” AND “nutri*”, “coronavirus 2” AND “nutri*”, “COVID19” AND “food”. Data Extraction Twenty-two original studies were included in this review. Data extraction tables were created for recording author names, year of publication, location of study, duration, lockdown phase, design, methods, aims, number of participants, age, gender, health status, education, socioeconomic status, dietary patterns, food security, physical activity, body weight change or body mass index, and associations with sociodemographic characteristics. Data Analysis Impacts of lockdowns on eating patterns, physical activity, body weight or body mass index, and food security were the primary outcomes investigated. Secondary outcomes investigated were associations with sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusion COVID-19 lockdowns were associated with significant changes in dietary and lifestyle behaviors of worldwide populations. Impacts were seen during and post-lockdown likely due to more time spent at home, working from home, decreased food availability and accessibility, and augmented stress associated with lockdown.