학술논문
Changes in Food Consumption and Eating Behaviours of Children and Their Families Living in Italy during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The EPaS-ISS Study
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Source
Nutrients. July 2023, Vol. 15 Issue 15
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
2072-6643
Abstract
Author(s): Paola Nardone [1]; Angela Spinelli [1]; Marta Buoncristiano [2]; Silvia Andreozzi [1]; Mauro Bucciarelli [1]; Marco Giustini [3]; Silvia Ciardullo (corresponding author) [1,*] 1. Introduction During the past three [...]
The aim of the EPaS-ISS study was to describe the changes in food consumption and eating behaviours of children (mainly aged 8–9 years) and their families between the pre-COVID-19 period (before February/March 2020) and the COVID-19 period (from February/March 2020 to April 2022). A web questionnaire completed by parents was used to collect data. The sociodemographic characteristics of the children and their parents were also explored through the web questionnaire. Seventeen regions out of nineteen and the two autonomous provinces (PA) of Italy participated in the study. The survey was completed for 4863 children (47.9% females). The study showed that only small changes in children’s food consumption happened between the pre-COVID-19 period and the COVID-19 period; in particular, about 25% of parents reported an increase in savoury snacks and sweet food. A decrease in fruit and vegetable (about 8%) and fish (14%) consumption was also found. However, the changes seem to have mainly affected children from most disadvantaged families. The results also indicate positive changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in some families’ eating behaviours, such as eating more home-cooked meals (42%) and family meals (39%), as well as cooking more with children (42%).
The aim of the EPaS-ISS study was to describe the changes in food consumption and eating behaviours of children (mainly aged 8–9 years) and their families between the pre-COVID-19 period (before February/March 2020) and the COVID-19 period (from February/March 2020 to April 2022). A web questionnaire completed by parents was used to collect data. The sociodemographic characteristics of the children and their parents were also explored through the web questionnaire. Seventeen regions out of nineteen and the two autonomous provinces (PA) of Italy participated in the study. The survey was completed for 4863 children (47.9% females). The study showed that only small changes in children’s food consumption happened between the pre-COVID-19 period and the COVID-19 period; in particular, about 25% of parents reported an increase in savoury snacks and sweet food. A decrease in fruit and vegetable (about 8%) and fish (14%) consumption was also found. However, the changes seem to have mainly affected children from most disadvantaged families. The results also indicate positive changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in some families’ eating behaviours, such as eating more home-cooked meals (42%) and family meals (39%), as well as cooking more with children (42%).