Evaluation of the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic Process on Food Insecurity in Adults: A Turkey Sample

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of food insecurity; to evaluate the relationship between food insecurity and sociodemographic characteristics, health status, lifestyle, dietary habits, and characteristics of food supply.

Subjects and Method: A total of 1030 adults (336 males, 694 females; median age=25 years) across Turkey were included in the study. The data were generated through an online questionnaire. In the questionnaire form, the sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and nutritional habits of the individuals were examined. An individual assessment of food insecurity was provided through Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). The research data were analysed in the SPSS 22.0 program.
Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity was detected in 57.2% of individuals. BMI values of individuals with mild food insecurity were found to be significantly lower than those with food security (p<0.05). As the severity of food insecurity increased, the frequency of smoking, the rate of people who have decreased daily sleep hours, the rate of the ordering online food/using food delivery services, and the frequency of eating out increased significantly (p<0.001, p<0.0001, p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively); while water consumption decreased significantly (p<0.01).

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic process has structured the profile of food insecurity in adults and in this process, it has been shown that lifestyle behaviours, dietary habits and actions related to food supply deteriorate significantly as the severity of food insecurity increases.