Poor appetite and overeating reported by adults in Australia during the coronavirus-19 disease pandemic: a population-based study.
Public Health Nutr
; 24(2): 275-281, 2021 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32972479
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
As a result of the coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Australia adopted emergency measures on 22 March 2020. This study reports the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on appetite and overeating in Australian adults during the first month of emergency measures.DESIGN:
This study reports analysis of data from the population-based, self-completed survey. The main outcome measure was an item from the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 asking 'Over the past 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by poor appetite or overeating?'. Data on sociodemographic factors, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown were also collected. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations with poor appetite or overeating.SETTING:
An anonymous online survey available from 3 April to 2 May 2020.PARTICIPANTS:
A total of 13 829 Australian residents aged 18 years or over.RESULTS:
The weighted prevalence of being bothered by poor appetite or overeating in the past 2 weeks was 53·6 %, with 11·6 % (95 % CI 10·6, 12·6) of the cohort reporting poor appetite or overeating nearly every day. High levels of anxiety, concern about contracting COVID-19, being in lockdown with children and reporting a severe impact of the lockdown were associated with increased odds of poor appetite or overeating.CONCLUSIONS:
Given the widespread prevalence of being bothered by poor appetite or overeating, universal public health interventions to address emotion-focused or situational eating during periods of lockdown may be appropriate.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Appetite
/
Hyperphagia
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
Public Health Nutr
Journal subject:
CIENCIAS DA NUTRICAO
/
SAUDE PUBLICA
Year:
2021
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Australia