The food choice determinants and adherence to Mediterranean diet in Iranian adults before and during COVID-19 lockdown: population-based study
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 25 August 2021
Issue publication date: 6 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes in dietary intake were observed. However, the determinants of food choice and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) in this period were not studied so far for Iranian adults. This study aimed to assess the food choice determinants changes and Adherence to the MD of Iranian adults.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was a cross-sectional study that was conducted from April 2019 to May 2020, based on the snowball sampling, and a total number of 2,540 adults from all the regions of Iran participated. The Food Choice Questionnaire was used to analyze food choice determinants, and the validated ten-item MD adherence screener was used to assess the adherence to the MD.
Findings
Before the COVID-19 quarantine, sensory appeal and price were the most important factors in Iranian food choice (with the highest scores), but during the COVID-19 pandemic the important food choice determinants were health and weight control. Consumption of vegetables (71.85% vs 40.07%), fruits (60.70% vs 38.74%), legumes (24.72% vs 12.38%) and nuts (14.33%) increased significantly after the outbreak of quarantine.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors of this paper thank Ardabil and Tabriz University of Medical Sciences for their financial and spiritual support.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Citation
Mohajeri, M., Ghannadiasl, F., Narimani, S. and Nemati, A. (2021), "The food choice determinants and adherence to Mediterranean diet in Iranian adults before and during COVID-19 lockdown: population-based study", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 51 No. 8, pp. 1299-1307. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-01-2021-0044
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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