Evaluation of Changes in Dietary Habits of Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19

Objective: The workload and working hours of healthcare professionals have increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate how COVID-19 outbreak restrictions affect dietary habits among healthcare professionals. Material and Method: The study population was 239 adults aged between 18-65 years. An online survey including questions about demographic variables, health information, lifestyle behaviors, and dietary habits were sent via an online platform. Self-reported weight, and height before and during the pandemic were also collected. Results: The percentage of those who skip the main meals during the lockdown (48.1%) has increased compared to before the lockdown (43.9%). The most skipped main meal and snack were breakfast and mid-morning, respectively. Among the study population, 48.1% reported that they increased their vegetable-fruit consumption, 38.1% reported increased water intake and 45.6% reported consuming more home-cooked food. The most preferred snacks were fruits-vegetables (62.3%), and nuts (55.6%). Approximately half of the participants (46.0%) reported an increased appetite and 50.6% of the participants stated an increase in body weight during COVID-19. The weight gain of the 51-64 age group (3.73±4.13 kg) was statistically significantly higher than the 18-50 age group (0.43±4.51 kg) (p=0.014). The rate of those who reported doing at least 150 minutes of exercise per week before COVID-19 (43.9%) decreased during the pandemic (30.5%). Conclusion: Body weight, appetite, some dietary habits, and physical activities were generally adversely affected among healthcare workers during the pandemic. Older groups are most prone to weight gain during the lockdown.