Eating behaviours changes during COVID-19 lockdown due to gender and residential disparities amongst university students

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the changes in the eating behaviours of university students during the lockdown due to COVID-19. A total of 118 students were invited to fill an electronic questionnaire regarding eating behaviour before and after the onset of the lockdown. Participants significantly scored higher “before” than “during” the lockdown for the item “consuming unhealthy food”. Moreover, “eating snacks between meals”, “eating irregular meals” and “soft drinks consumption” items increased significantly during the lockdown. Male participants showed a significant decrease in eating unhealthy food compared to female participants, while other eating patterns have similar trend. During the lockdown, city residents have significant increases in the frequency of eating regular meals, eating snacks between meals, frequency of soft drinks consumption and consuming 3 meals daily. City-outsiders have significant increases in consuming snacks between meals and significant decrease in soft drinks consumption. Generally, diet intake, irregular, extra meal and snacks have increased during the lockdown. Variations with regard to eating behaviours were dependant on gender. City residents eating behaviour was different may be due to availability of food items and variations in social life.