Sex disparities in food consumption patterns, dietary diversity and determinants of self-reported body weight changes before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 10 Arab countries

The Regional CORONA COOKING Survey Group

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic along with its confinement period boosted lifestyle modifications and impacted women and men differently which exacerbated existing gender inequalities. The main objective of this paper is to assess the gender-based differentials in food consumption patterns, dietary diversity and the determinants favoring weight change before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic among Arab men and women from 10 Arab countries.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on a convenience sample of 12,447 households' family members (mean age: 33.2 ± 12.9; 50.1% females) and information from participants aged 18 years and above was collected about periods before and during the pandemic.

RESULTS: Findings showed that, during the COVID-19 period, the dietary diversity, declined by 1.9% among females compared to males (0.4%) ( p < 0.001) and by 1.5% among overweight participants ( p < 0.001) compared to their counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS: To conclude, gender-sensitive strategies and policies to address weight gain and dietary diversity during emergent shocks and pandemics are urgently needed in the region.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1029219
JournalFrontiers in Public Health
Volume10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 28 2022

Keywords

  • Arab countries
  • body mass index
  • COVID-19 pandemic
  • dietary diversity
  • overweight
  • sex
  • Pandemics
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Self Report
  • Arabs
  • Overweight/epidemiology
  • Male
  • Young Adult
  • COVID-19/epidemiology
  • Female
  • Adult

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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