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Call for emergency action to restore dietary diversity and protect global food systems in times of COVID-19 and beyond: Results from a cross-sectional study in 38 countries

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dc.contributor.author Hoteit, Maha
dc.contributor.author Hoteit, Reem
dc.contributor.author Aljawaldeh, Ayoub
dc.contributor.author Van Royen, Kathleen
dc.contributor.author Pabian, Sara
dc.contributor.author Decorte, Paulien
dc.contributor.author Cuykx, Isabelle
dc.contributor.author Teunissen, Lauranna
dc.contributor.author De Backer, Charlotte
dc.contributor.author Palomares Estrada, Lita
dc.date.accessioned 2023-12-07T22:33:23Z
dc.date.available 2023-12-07T22:33:23Z
dc.date.issued 2023
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12866/14703
dc.description.abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries' societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered between April and June 2020. The study utilized a pre-tested food frequency questionnaire to explore food consumption patterns both before and during the COVID-19 periods. Additionally, the study computed Food Consumption Score (FCS) as a proxy indicator for assessing the dietary diversity of households. Findings: This quantification of global, regional and national dietary diversity across 38 countries showed an increment in the consumption of all food groups but a drop in the intake of vegetables and in the dietary diversity. The household's food consumption scores indicating dietary diversity varied across regions. It decreased in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, including Lebanon (p < 0.001) and increased in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries including Bahrain (p = 0.003), Egypt (p < 0.001) and United Arab Emirates (p = 0.013). A decline in the household's dietary diversity was observed in Australia (p < 0.001), in South Africa including Uganda (p < 0.001), in Europe including Belgium (p < 0.001), Denmark (p = 0.002), Finland (p < 0.001) and Netherland (p = 0.027) and in South America including Ecuador (p < 0.001), Brazil (p < 0.001), Mexico (p < 0.0001) and Peru (p < 0.001). Middle and older ages [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.125–1.426] [OR = 2.5; 95 % CI = [1.951–3.064], being a woman [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.117–1.367], having a high education (p < 0.001), and showing amelioration in food-related behaviors [OR = 1.4; 95 % CI = [1.292–1.709] were all linked to having a higher dietary diversity. Conclusion: The minor to moderate changes in food consumption patterns observed across the 38 countries within relatively short time frames could become lasting, leading to a significant and prolonged reduction in dietary diversity, as demonstrated by our findings. en_US
dc.language.iso eng
dc.publisher Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartofseries Heliyon
dc.rights info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.rights.uri https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.es
dc.subject COVID-19 en_US
dc.subject Pandemics en_US
dc.subject Food consumption pattern en_US
dc.subject Dietary diversity en_US
dc.subject Food consumption score en_US
dc.subject Food-related behaviors en_US
dc.subject.mesh COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh Pandemias
dc.subject.mesh Ingestión de Alimentos
dc.subject.mesh Conducta Alimentaria
dc.title Call for emergency action to restore dietary diversity and protect global food systems in times of COVID-19 and beyond: Results from a cross-sectional study in 38 countries en_US
dc.type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.identifier.doi https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21585
dc.relation.issn 2405-8440


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