Influence of the confinement that occurred in Spain due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus outbreak on adherence to the Mediterranean diet

Abstract

Introduction: The Mediterranean diet (MDiet) reduces morbidity and mortality. The lockdown that took place in Spain between the months of March and May 2020 may have led to behavioural changes. The aim of the present study was to assess adherence to the MDiet at the end of the lockdown period and to compare it with the situation prior to it.

Methods: Data were obtained by means of 2online questionnaires, one at the beginning of lockdown and the other at the end, completed by adults from the Spanish population, who responded anonymously and voluntarily. The assessment of adherence to the MDiet was carried out using 2questionnaires: Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) and modified PREDIMED, which contained 14 questions each. Other variables included were: age, gender, body mass index (BMI), autonomous community of origin, home living conditions, and level of studies achieved. At the end of the lockdown period, the comparison was made using the Student t statistic and the McNemar test.

Results: A total of 207 people (137 women) participated, with a mean age 51.3±12.4 years, age range: 20-83 years. After lockdown, BMI remained unchanged (initial 24.55±3.7kg/m² and final 24.57±3.7kg/m², P=.752), as well as fish consumption (initial 51.2%) and 60.9% at the end, P=.003), mainly due to the women, and adherence to the Mdiet. The mean total score of MEDAS increased with 10.16±2.0 at the beginning, and 10.57±2.0 at the end; P=.001). This also occurred with the modified PREDIMED (9.47±2.1 at the beginning and 9.93±2.1 at the end, P<.001). Similarly, the proportion of participants that had a score classified as high at the beginning increased at the end of lockdown: from 80.7% initially in MEDAS to 87.9% at the end (P=.021) and from 68.6% initially in modified PREDIMED to 75.8% at the end (P=.037).

Conclusions: In the study sample, during lockdown there were no changes in BMI, but there were increases in fish consumption and adherence to the MDiet.

Keywords: Adherence; Adherencia; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Dieta mediterránea; Mediterranean diet; Pandemia; Pandemic; SARS-CoV-2.