Generic placeholder image

Current Nutrition & Food Science

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1573-4013
ISSN (Online): 2212-3881

Research Article

Comparison of General Dietary and Lifestyle Habits Before and During COVID-19 among the Saudi Adult Population in Riyadh

Author(s): Nouf A. ALkharashi*

Volume 18, Issue 4, 2022

Published on: 24 March, 2022

Page: [419 - 426] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/1573401318666211224123653

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: During the initial outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic, there were few effective evidence-based vaccines or treatments available, which led to many attempts to find alternative options.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the general dietary and lifestyle habits among the Saudi adult population in Riyadh before and during COVID-19.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study targeting the Riyadh population from 16 May 2020 to 16 June 2020. The study was composed of a structured questionnaire that collected demographic information (such as age, gender, place of residence, and health status), dietary habit information (such as daily intake of certain foods, food frequency, number of meals/day, and number of times drinking tea and coffee), lifestyle habit information (such as physical activity; sleep quality; and time spent using the internet, social media, and electronic devices for fun or stress relief) using Google forms. A total of 1193 participants aged over 18 years were included in the study.

Results: During the COVID-19 period, a significant increase was observed in the number of meals eaten daily, fruit and vegetable intake, the intake of sweets and cakes/biscuits, the number of hours of sleep per day, and time spent on the internet and social media compared with the pre- COVID-19 pandemic period. However, the amount of running exercise or physical activity was found to be significantly reduced.

Conclusion: In this study, we found that the dietary and lifestyle habits changed among Saudi adults during the COVID-19 period. Similar large-scale studies should be undertaken in the future to confirm the results of the study.

Keywords: COVID-19, coronavirus, eating habits, lifestyle, population, dietary.

« Previous
Graphical Abstract
[1]
Weiss SR, Navas-Martin S. Coronavirus pathogenesis and the emerging pathogen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2005; 69(4): 635-64.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/MMBR.69.4.635-664.2005] [PMID: 16339739]
[2]
McIntosh K, Perlman S. Coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases 2015; pp. 1928-36.
[3]
Li Q, Guan X, Wu P, et al. Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia. N Engl J Med 2020; 382(13): 1199-207.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2001316] [PMID: 31995857]
[4]
Paules CI, Marston HD, Fauci AS. Coronavirus infections-more than just the common cold. JAMA 2020; 323(8): 707-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.0757] [PMID: 31971553]
[5]
Sahin AR, Erdogan A, Agaoglu PM, et al. 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: A review of the current literature. EJMO 2020; 4: 1-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.14744/ejmo.2020.12220]
[6]
Drosten C, Günther S, Preiser W, et al. Identification of a novel coronavirus in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. N Engl J Med 2003; 348(20): 1967-76.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa030747] [PMID: 12690091]
[7]
Ksiazek TG, Erdman D, Goldsmith CS, et al. SARS Working Group. A novel coronavirus associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome. N Engl J Med 2003; 348(20): 1953-66.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa030781] [PMID: 12690092]
[8]
Zaki AM, van Boheemen S, Bestebroer TM, Osterhaus AD, Fouchier RA. Isolation of a novel coronavirus from a man with pneumonia in Saudi Arabia. N Engl J Med 2012; 367(19): 1814-20.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1211721] [PMID: 23075143]
[9]
Yuki K, Fujiogi M, Koutsogiannaki S. COVID-19 pathophysiology: A review. Clin Immunol 2020; 215108427
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2020.108427] [PMID: 32325252]
[10]
Abdulamir AS, Hafidh RR. The possible immunological pathways for the variable immunopathogenesis of COVID-19 infections among healthy adults, elderly and children. Electron J Gen Med 2020; 17(4)em202
[11]
Wax RS, Christian MD. Practical recommendations for critical care and anesthesiology teams caring for novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) patients. Can J Anaesth 2020; 67(5): 568-76.
[12]
Jebril N. World Health Organization declared a pandemic public health menace: A systematic review of the coronavirus disease 2019 “COVID-19”, up to 2020; SSRN 3566298 Available from: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3566298
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3566298]
[13]
Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports. 2020.
[14]
Barry M, Ghonem L, Alsharidi A, Awadh A, Al-Shahrani F, Naif H. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Mitigation measures and hospitals preparedness. J Nat Sci Med 2020; 3(3): 155-8.
[15]
Cheng VC, Wong S-C, Chuang VW, et al. The role of community-wide wearing of face mask for control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic due to SARS-CoV-2. J Infect 2020; 81(1): 107-14.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2020.04.024] [PMID: 32335167]
[16]
Zabetakis I, Lordan R, Norton C, Tsoupras A. COVID-19: The inflammation link and the role of nutrition in potential mitigation. Nutrients 2020; 12(5): 1466.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu12051466] [PMID: 32438620]
[17]
Al Humaid J, Khan SQ, Farooqi F, Alhareky M, Alonaizan F, Al Harbi F. COVID-19: Impact of early decision and type of lockdown over the spread of the virus. 2020. Available from: https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-26573/v1
[18]
Algaissi AA, Alharbi NK, Hassanain M, Hashem AM. Preparedness and response to COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: Building on MERS experience. J Infect Public Health 2020; 13(6): 834-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jiph.2020.04.016] [PMID: 32451260]
[19]
Butler MJ, Barrientos RM. The impact of nutrition on COVID-19 susceptibility and long-term consequences. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 87: 53-4.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.040] [PMID: 32311498]
[20]
Chrysohoou C, Panagiotakos DB, Pitsavos C, Das UN, Stefanadis C. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet attenuates inflammation and coagulation process in healthy adults: The ATTICA Study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004; 44(1): 152-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2004.03.039] [PMID: 15234425]
[21]
Saadeh D, Salameh P, Baldi I, Raherison C. Diet and allergic diseases among population aged 0 to 18 years: Myth or reality? Nutrients 2013; 5(9): 3399-423.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu5093399] [PMID: 23995043]
[22]
Holt EM, Steffen LM, Moran A, et al. Fruit and vegetable consumption and its relation to markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in adolescents. J Am Diet Assoc 2009; 109(3): 414-21.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2008.11.036] [PMID: 19248856]
[23]
Kaluza J, Harris HR, Linden A, Wolk A. Long-term consumption of fruits and vegetables and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A prospective cohort study of women. Int J Epidemiol 2018; 47(6): 1897-909.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyy178] [PMID: 30239739]
[24]
Al-Jadid MS. Disability in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J 2013; 34(5): 453-60.
[PMID: 23677260]
[25]
Krejcie RV, Morgan DW. Determining sample size for research activities. Educ Psychol Meas 1970; 30: 607-10.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308]
[26]
Turley ML, Skeaff CM, Mann JI, Cox B. The effect of a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet on serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. Eur J Clin Nutr 1998; 52(10): 728-32.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600634] [PMID: 9805219]
[27]
Hellerstein MK. Carbohydrate-induced hypertriglyceridemia: Modifying factors and implications for cardiovascular risk. Curr Opin Lipidol 2002; 13(1): 33-40.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00041433-200202000-00006] [PMID: 11790961]
[28]
Di Renzo L, Gualtieri P, Pivari F, et al. Eating habits and lifestyle changes during COVID-19 lockdown: An Italian survey. J Transl Med 2020; 18(1): 229.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12967-020-02399-5] [PMID: 32513197]
[29]
Boynton-Jarrett R, Thomas TN, Peterson KE, Wiecha J, Sobol AM, Gortmaker SL. Impact of television viewing patterns on fruit and vegetable consumption among adolescents. Pediatrics 2003; 112(6 Pt 1): 1321-6.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.112.6.1321] [PMID: 14654604]
[30]
Jayawardena R, Sooriyaarachchi P, Chourdakis M, Jeewandara C, Ranasinghe P. Enhancing immunity in viral infections, with special emphasis on COVID-19: A review. Diabetes Metab Syndr 2020; 14(4): 367-82.
[31]
Berthon BS, Wood LG. Nutrition and respiratory health-feature review. Nutrients 2015; 7(3): 1618-43.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu7031618] [PMID: 25751820]
[32]
Adebawo O, Salau B, Ezima E, et al. Fruits and vegetables moderate lipid cardiovascular risk factor in hypertensive patients. Lipids Health Dis 2006; 5: 14.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-511X-5-14] [PMID: 16753064]
[33]
Celik F, Topcu F. Nutritional risk factors for the development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in male smokers. Clin Nutr 2006; 25(6): 955-61.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2006.04.006] [PMID: 16782241]
[34]
Payne ME, Steck SE, George RR, Steffens DC. Fruit, vegetable, and antioxidant intakes are lower in older adults with depression. J Acad Nutr Diet 2012; 112(12): 2022-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.08.026] [PMID: 23174689]
[35]
Maggini S, Pierre A, Calder PC. Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course. Nutrients 2018; 10(10): 1531.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu10101531] [PMID: 30336639]
[36]
Bonaventura P, Benedetti G, Albarède F, Miossec P. Zinc and its role in immunity and inflammation. Autoimmun Rev 2015; 14(4): 277-85.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2014.11.008] [PMID: 25462582]
[37]
Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and immune function. Nutrients 2017; 9(11): 1211.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu9111211] [PMID: 29099763]
[38]
Patel N, Penkert RR, Jones BG, et al. Baseline serum vitamin A and D levels determine benefit of oral vitamin A&D supplements to humoral immune responses following pediatric influenza vaccination. Viruses 2019; 11(10): 907.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v11100907] [PMID: 31575021]
[39]
Nishikimi M, Fukuyama R, Minoshima S, Shimizu N, Yagi K. Cloning and chromosomal mapping of the human nonfunctional gene for L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase, the enzyme for L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis missing in man. J Biol Chem 1994; 269(18): 13685-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9258(17)36884-9] [PMID: 8175804]
[40]
García-Closas R, Berenguer A, José Tormo M, et al. Dietary sources of vitamin C, vitamin E and specific carotenoids in Spain. Br J Nutr 2004; 91(6): 1005-11.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/BJN20041130] [PMID: 15182404]
[41]
Padayatty S, Espey M, Levine M, Vitamin C. Encyclopedia of dietary supplements. New York: Informa Healthcare 2010; p. 920.
[42]
Murphy EW, Willis BW, Watt BK. Provisional tables on the zinc content of foods. J Am Diet Assoc 1975; 66(4): 345-55.
[PMID: 1090644]
[43]
Jakicic JM. The effect of physical activity on body weight. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2009; 17(3): S34-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/oby.2009.386] [PMID: 19927144]
[44]
Wing RR, Venditti E, Jakicic JM, Polley BA, Lang W. Lifestyle intervention in overweight individuals with a family history of diabetes. Diabetes Care 1998; 21(3): 350-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2337/diacare.21.3.350] [PMID: 9540015]
[45]
Drøyvold WB, Holmen J, Midthjell K, Lydersen S. BMI change and leisure time physical activity (LTPA): An 11-y follow-up study in apparently healthy men aged 20-69 y with normal weight at baseline. Int J Obes 2004; 28(3): 410-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802569] [PMID: 14724661]
[46]
Donnelly JE, Hill JO, Jacobsen DJ, et al. Effects of a 16-month randomized controlled exercise trial on body weight and composition in young, overweight men and women: The Midwest Exercise Trial. Arch Intern Med 2003; 163(11): 1343-50.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.163.11.1343] [PMID: 12796071]

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy