TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19 disease and nutritional choices: how will the pandemic reconfigure our food psychology and habits? A case study of the Italian population
AU - Savarese, Mariarosaria
AU - Castellini, Greta
AU - Castellini, Greta
AU - Morelli, Lorenzo
AU - Graffigna, Guendalina
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Background and aims
In Italy, the spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) required lifestyle changes that have affected food choices and people's health condition. We explore people's perception of the role of food consumption as a preventive measure and how it reconfigures consumption habits.
Method and results
We conducted an online survey of a representative sample of 1004 Italian citizens. Around 40% of the population perceive that strengthening the immune defences through nutrition is not important to reduce the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. People with lower levels of perceived importance are slightly younger and have a less healthy lifestyle. They are less worried about the emergency. During the last months, they have bought less food supplements and also intend to decrease their purchase in the next 6 months.
Conclusion
In COVID-19 pandemic, scholars underline the importance of having a strong immune system. However, the Italians who attribute less importance to food that helps the immune system seem to differ negatively in their psychological attitude towards the emergency and food consumption. Today, Italians are asked to engage in preventive food practices to protect against possible chronic diseases; exploring their perceptions is important to orient them towards this change.
AB - Background and aims
In Italy, the spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) required lifestyle changes that have affected food choices and people's health condition. We explore people's perception of the role of food consumption as a preventive measure and how it reconfigures consumption habits.
Method and results
We conducted an online survey of a representative sample of 1004 Italian citizens. Around 40% of the population perceive that strengthening the immune defences through nutrition is not important to reduce the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. People with lower levels of perceived importance are slightly younger and have a less healthy lifestyle. They are less worried about the emergency. During the last months, they have bought less food supplements and also intend to decrease their purchase in the next 6 months.
Conclusion
In COVID-19 pandemic, scholars underline the importance of having a strong immune system. However, the Italians who attribute less importance to food that helps the immune system seem to differ negatively in their psychological attitude towards the emergency and food consumption. Today, Italians are asked to engage in preventive food practices to protect against possible chronic diseases; exploring their perceptions is important to orient them towards this change.
KW - Covid-19, disease preventions, behavioural change, healthy diets
KW - food psychology
KW - Covid-19, disease preventions, behavioural change, healthy diets
KW - food psychology
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/177081
U2 - 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.10.013
DO - 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.10.013
M3 - Article
SN - 0939-4753
VL - 31
SP - 399
EP - 402
JO - NMCD. NUTRITION METABOLISM AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
JF - NMCD. NUTRITION METABOLISM AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
ER -