Changes in Nutritional Habits and Lifestyles during the COVID-19 Lockdown Period in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to be a pandemic in March 2020 due to growing case notification rates worldwide. This study was designed to investigate nutritional habits and lifestyle changes among people living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the COVID-19 lockdown. A cross-sectional study of 208 adults aged 18 to 56 years living in the KSA was conducted between March and May 2020. Participants were identified and invited to complete an online survey. Google Docs forms were used by participants to self-report their nutritional habits, lifestyles, and physical activity levels during the lockdown. Of the 208 participants, 88.9% were female. More than half of the participants (58.1%) reported an increase in their food consumption during the lockdown, which included a higher intake of fast food (47.1%), sweets (48.5%), and fruits and vegetables (49%). 30.8% of participants reported an increase in body weight during the lockdown, while 32.2% reported a decrease. Staying at home or working from home was associated with decreased levels of physical activity in 39% of participants. This study provides the first data on changes in nutritional habits and lifestyles during the COVID-19 quarantine. Our findings suggest that people should decrease their intake of foods that are high in fat and sugar and increase their physical activity levels to maintain a healthy lifestyle.