Changes in Nutritional Habits and Lifestyles during the COVID-19 Lockdown Period in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to be a pandemic in March 2020 due to growing case notification rates worldwide. This study was designed to investigate nutritional habits and lifestyle changes among people living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the COVID-19 lockdown. A cross-sectional study of 208 adults aged 18 to 56 years living in the KSA was conducted between March and May 2020. Participants were identified and invited to complete an online survey. Google Docs forms were used by participants to self-report their nutritional habits, lifestyles, and physical activity levels during the lockdown. Of the 208 participants, 88.9% were female. More than half of the participants (58.1%) reported an increase in their food consumption during the lockdown, which included a higher intake of fast food (47.1%), sweets (48.5%), and fruits and vegetables (49%). 30.8% of participants reported an increase in body weight during the lockdown, while 32.2% reported a decrease. Staying at home or working from home was associated with decreased levels of physical activity in 39% of participants. This study provides the first data on changes in nutritional habits and lifestyles during the COVID-19 quarantine. Our findings suggest that people should decrease their intake of foods that are high in fat and sugar and increase their physical activity levels to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Results of the ECHO (Eating habits CHanges in Oncologic patients) Survey: An Italian Cross-Sectional Multicentric Study to Explore Dietary Changes and Dietary Supplement Use, in Breast Cancer Survivors

The role of a healthy diet in cancer prevention is well recognized. Recent data indicate that following the same advices can also improve cancer survivors’ quality of life. Breast cancer (BC) patients are commonly concerned about diet and nutrition and frequently express the need to obtain health-related information and the will to change their diet and lifestyle. Hence, be aware of survivors’ dietary changes and information needs is crucial for healthcare professionals to guide them toward optimal lifestyle choices. In order to investigate eating habits changes in a BC survivors’ population, we conceived the cross-sectional multicentric study ECHO (Eating habits CHanges in Oncologic patients) Survey. Data were collected from 684 patients, diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, in order to investigate their changes in food consumption, use of supplements, or the beginning of a specific diet, after BC diagnosis. We also examined the sources of information used and if any modification in their diets was reported to the oncologist. We primarily observed that patients increased their consumption of vegetables, pulses, nuts, fruits, wholemeal bread/pasta, grains and fish; while decreasing red and processed meat, refined bread/pasta, baked good and animal fat consumption. Survivors also reported the use of dietary supplements, mainly vitamins, aimed at counteracting therapies’ side effects. Changes in nutritional habits were often adopted without asking or informing the oncologist. Despite BC survivors made some positive changes in their nutritional habits, those modifications were mostly pursued by less than half of them, while the majority of patients consumed nutritional supplements after diagnosis. These results, as well as the failure to communicate with the physicians, reinforce the need to both improve the patient-healthcare professional relationship and to develop tailored nutrition counselling and intervention programs for cancer survivors.

Anxiety Status and Coping Strategies in Association with Sociodemographic Factors, Dietary and Lifestyle Habits in Greece

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nutritional habits, lifestyle, anxiety, and coping strategies. Background: Anxiety is an underestimated and often undiagnosed subclinical disorder that burdens the general public of modern societies and increases illness suscentibility. Methods: The study group consisted of 693 individuals living in Peloponnese, Greece. A standardized questionnaire that consists of the dietary habits and lifestyle questionnaire, the trait Anxiety STAI-X-2 questionnaire and the brief-COPE questionnaire, was used. Principal components analysis identified the factors from the questionnaires, and stepwise multivariate regression analysis investigated their relationships. Results: Weekly consumption of fruits, tomatoes, salads and lettuce, together with Εmotional/Ιnstrumental support, Denial/Behavioural disengagement, substance use and self-blame, was the most important predictors of anxiety scores. Positive reframing/Humour and Acceptance/Planning are also associated with the Positive STAI factor and decreased anxiety scores. Conclusion: Healthy nutritional habits, comprised of consumption of salads and fruits, together with adaptive coping strategies, such as Positive reframing/Humour and Active problem solving, may provide the most profound improvement in the anxiety levels of a healthy population in Peloponnese, Greece.

Oral Health, Dental Care and Nutritional Habits of Children with Cerebral Palsy during Conductive Education

Objective: Regarding the 2011 census in Hungary, the number of children with movement deficiences can be around 7,000. These children with special health care needs are considered to be a vulnerable group even from a dental point of view. In our dental program, we gain comprehensive information about patients’ oral health, health behavior, and monitor dental care. Study design: A total of 199 children went through a full pediatric dental examination, children with cerebral palsy were categorized into five different levels (GMFCS) and children without motor disfunction into two groups. We analyzed the df-t and DMF-T values. Oral hygiene routine, dental care, gingivitis, demographic characteristics, nutritional habits odds ratio to df-t and DMF-T were surveyed. Results: The mean df-t and DMF-T was 1.87 and 1.15 out of a total of 199, and the group that scored worse was the GMFCS II. The mean RI (restorative index) was 18.12% and 27% for decidous and permanent teeth, respectively. The prevalence of gingivitis was 66.7%. Conclusion: The results of our research point to the fact that children with cerebral palsy have difficulties in developing and maintaining proper oral health due to their disadvantages and therefore require special care and attention.