Eating behaviour of the Croatian working population during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: Disruption in the defined daily work and life routine caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in the eating habits of the population. Home confinement during pandemics could change eating patterns, reduce diet quality, and promote overconsumption. This study aimed to evaluate the eating habits of the Croatian working population during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from February to June 2021 period. A validated, anonymous questionnaire that contained questions regarding demographic and anthropometric data, and data on eating habits, was self-administered to a convenient sample of Croatian working adults from central and northwestern Croatia. RESULTS: The study sample included 939 subjects with, a median age of 42 years (interquartile range 35-48), 35.4% males, and 64.6% females. Overweight and obesity were more frequent among males (p < 0.001), subjects with a lower level of education (p < 0.001), and subjects living in households with more household members (p < 0.001). In comparison to subjects with normal weight, during pandemics, overweight subjects more frequently gained weight (p < 0.001), more frequently consumed a larger amount of food than usual (p < 0.001), consumed snacks more frequently (p = 0.001), and cooked more in their households (p = 0.042). Consumption of more snacks during the pandemic was more frequently detected among females (p = 0.007), and subjects with a higher level of education (p = 0.045), while latter subjects also cooked more in their households (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that COVID-19 preventive measures have affected the eating behaviours and dietary habits of the Croatian working population. To avoid possible negative health effects of observed changes organized nutritional education and support should be implemented at the population level, particularly for the most vulnerable groups, including overweight and obese subjects. KEY MESSAGES: • The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the eating behaviour and dietary habits of the Croatian working population. • To avoid an increase in chronic diseases connected with an imbalanced diet there is a need for the implementation of organized nutritional education and support at the population level.