Changes in people's FOOD consumption and nutritional awareness/habits in the period of COVİD-19

This study was planned to examine the changes in food consumption and eating habits of individuals who are socially isolated at home in order to protect themselves and public health in the COVID-19 epidemic, which is effective on a global scale. The sample group of the study included 400 individuals between the ages of 19-65, who were in social isolation due to COVID-19 throughout the Istanbul Kağıthane district. The research was carried out with individuals in Kağıthane district who accepted to participate in the study voluntarily between 15.02.2021 and 28.05.2021. The 28-question survey form prepared by the researcher was applied to the individuals by online interview method. The questionnaire consists of two parts. The first part consists of demographic questions and the second part consists of questions aiming to reveal the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the nutritional habits of individuals. 11 expressions were created to measure with a 5-point Likert scale, revealing the importance of the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the nutritional habits of individuals. 68.2% (n:273) of the individuals participating in the study were female and 31.8% (n:127) were male. The mean age of the individuals was 35.5±11.5 years, and 57.4 of them were undergraduate graduates. While the mean body weight of women before the epidemic was 64±12.2 kg, it was 81.6±13.3 kg for men. After social isolation (two months), the mean body weight of women was 65.4±12.1 kg and that of men was 83.3±13.2 kg (p<0.001). It was determined that 38.5% of the individuals were in the obese class in general (p<0.05). It was determined that there was an increase in the number of meals of the participants during the COVID-19 epidemic period, and it was determined that 5.8% of the women started to consume five meals (p<0.05). In this process, it was observed that the use of nutritional supplements increased and there was a statistically significant difference according to gender. (p<0.001). During the social isolation period, it was observed that the consumption of meat, chicken, yogurt, bread, tea, oil seeds, garlic, turmeric and cold cuts, vegetables increased, while the consumption of olive oil vegetables, dried fruits, oil seeds and mayonnaise decreased. It has been observed that individuals' online food order (47.9%), online grocery shopping (63.4%) and herbal nuts (57.7%) increased. However, it was determined that the frequency of eating out of individuals decreased. The COVID-19 epidemic process has affected the living standards of individuals in many ways. In order to eliminate the negative effects of this process, support from health professionals should be sought.