Influence of the confinement that occurred in Spain due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus outbreak on adherence to the Mediterranean diet. / Influencia del confinamiento ocurrido en España debido a la pandemia por el virus SARS-CoV-2 en la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea.

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.

[Changes in adherence to the Mediterranean diet observed in a Spanish population during confinement for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic]. / Cambios observados en la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea en una población española durante el confinamiento debido a la pandemia ocasionada por el SARS-CoV-2.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic can influence the dietary profiles of the population, suddenly subjected to a stressful factor that implies important modifications in life habits. Among others, a restriction of mobility and a change in the way of carrying out work, going from being face-to-face to non-contact (teleworking). Objective: to know the usual dietary pattern prior to confinement, and to assess the evolution of adherence to the Mediterranean diet weekly until its conclusion. Methods: data were collected using a weekly anonymous online questionnaire that monitored adherence to the Mediterranean diet in real time in an initial sample of 490 adults from Spain. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the MEDAS (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener) and modified PREDIMED questionnaires. Results: confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the eating habits of the participants, so that adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased at the end of the confinement period, which is of special interest, since it was based on a good initial adherence (MEDAS adherence: 10.03 ± 1.9 initial and 10.47 ± 2.1 final; p = 0.016; modified PREDIMED adherence: 9.26 ± 2.0 initial and 9.89 ± 2.1 final; p < 0.001), without observing clinically relevant changes in body composition as measured by body mass index (BMI) except in women (23.3 kg/m2 ± 2.9 initial and 23.4 kg/m2 ± 2.9 final; p < 0.001), with a slight increase in this parameter, but maintaining on average the healthy values recommended by the guidelines. Conclusions: in the studied population we observed an improvement in adherence to the Mediterranean diet without observing clinically relevant changes in BMI.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: el confinamiento domiciliario debido a la pandemia de COVID-19 puede influir en los perfiles dietéticos de la población, sometida súbitamente a un factor estresante que implica importantes modificaciones en los hábitos de vida. Entre otros, la restricción de la movilidad y el cambio en la forma de realizar el trabajo, pasando de ser presencial a no presencial (teletrabajo). Objetivo: conocer el patrón dietético habitual previo al confinamiento y valorar la evolución de la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea semanalmente hasta la conclusión del mismo. Métodos: los datos se recopilaron mediante un cuestionario anónimo semanal en línea que monitorizó la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea en tiempo real en una muestra inicial de 490 adultos de España. La adherencia a la dieta mediterránea se valoró mediante los cuestionarios MEDAS (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener) y PREDIMED modificado. Resultados: el confinamiento debido a la pandemia de COVID-19 influyó en los hábitos alimenticios de los participantes, de modo que la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea aumentó al concluir el período de confinamiento, lo cual tiene especial interés, ya que se partía de una buena adherencia inicial (adherencia MEDAS: 10,03 ± 1,9 inicial y 10,47 ± 2,1 final; p = 0,016; adherencia PREDIMED modificado: 9,26 ± 2,0 inicial y 9,89 ± 2,1 final; p < 0,001), sin observarse cambios clínicamente relevantes en la composición corporal valorada por el índice de masa corporal (IMC) excepto en las mujeres (23,3 kg/m2 ± 2,9 inicial y 23,4 kg/m2 ± 2,9 final; p < 0,001), con un discreto aumento de dicho parámetro pero manteniendo en promedio los valores saludables aconsejados por las guías. Conclusiones: en la población estudiada observamos una mejora de la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea sin observar cambios clínicamente relevantes en el IMC.