Correlates of Dietary Changes During COVID-19 in Immunosuppressed Individuals and Their Relatives: Alignment with Nutritional Recommendations

TL;DR

The study found that during the pandemic, dietary changes among immunosuppressed individuals and their relatives were mixed in alignment with Canada's Food Guide.

Contribution

This study identifies correlates of dietary changes in immunosuppressed individuals during the pandemic in relation to nutritional guidelines.

Findings

About a third of participants changed eating behaviors aligned with CFG-2019, while nearly 37% changed not aligned.

Reduced physical activity and mental health issues were linked to non-aligned eating behavior changes.

Perceived weight gain and poor body image were associated with non-aligned food consumption changes.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The sanitary measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, although essential for limiting the virus propagation, hindered healthy behaviours and negatively affected mental health and quality of life. In immunosuppressed individuals at higher risk of COVID-19 complications, these measures may have influenced adherence to Canada’s Food Guide 2019 (CFG-2019). This study aims to describe whether changes in eating behaviours and food consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic were aligned with CFG-2019 and identify correlates of changes in immunosuppressed individuals and their relatives. Methods: A total of 210 participants completed an online questionnaire between May and September 2021. Changes in eating behaviours and food consumption were categorized as no change, change aligned with CFG-2019, or change not aligned. Multinomial logistic regressions examined the association between sociodemographic, lifestyle, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics and changes in eating behaviours and food consumption. Results: Participants reporting no change in eating behaviours, change aligned, and change not aligned with CFG-2019 were nearly equivalent (29.4%, 33.8%, and 36.8%, respectively). For food consumption, the proportions were 17.0%, 41.2%, and 41.8%, respectively. Reduced physical activity and elevated anxiety and depressive symptoms were associated with a change in eating behaviours not aligned with CFG-2019. Perceived weight gain and decreased body image satisfaction were associated with a non-aligned change in food consumption. Conclusions: Dietary changes, aligned or not with CFG-2019, were observed among immunosuppressed individuals and their relatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying factors associated with these changes can inform future studies to support healthy eating among vulnerable individuals amidst stressful events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.