Nutritional Behaviour and Perceptions on Staying Well during the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic the Experiences of Students from a University in Birmingham, UK
Fatemeh Rabiee Khan1* and Karolina Biernat2
1School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, UK
2Centre for Social Care and Health Related Research, Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, UK
*Corresponding Author: Fatemeh Rabiee Khan, Professor, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, UK.
Received:
May 25, 2021; Published: July 06, 2021
Abstract
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictive measures on the health and well-being of the general population have recently been highlighted. This paper emerges from a larger study on the impact of a COVID-19 on health and wellbeing of university students in Birmingham, UK. It focuses on the nutritional aspects and students’ perceptions of behaviours that helped them to stay well during a time of uncertainty. A cross sectional study design has been used and data was collected during May and June 2020, via an anonymised online questionnaire. 1784 students completed the questionnaire (F = 1360, M = 418 and Non-binary = 14) with the age range of 18 - 53 (Mean = 25, SD ± 8) years.
Findings indicate a major negative impact of covid-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on students’ financial situation, with almost 50% stating decreased in their paid employment. This could have been the reasons for an increased consumption of food out of boredom and anxiety (61.8%), increased purchasing food out of fear (23.8%), consumption of more canned fruits and vegetables (18.6%) and being dependent on social protection measures related to food (10%).
The positive impact however was more home cooking and baking (72.4%), more consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables (50.4%), and an awareness of what to do to stay well.
Keywords:Covid-19; Food Behaviour; Health and Well-being; University Students; Lockdown
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