Changes in Nutrition Habits and Body Weight of the Lithuanian Adult Population During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives In Lithuania, the COVID-19 quarantine lasted from 16 March 2020 until 1 July 2021. This study aimed to assess nutrition, physical activity and body weight changes during the quarantine and the persistence of these changes after the quarantine among the Lithuanian adult population. Materials and Methods A study was conducted on a random sample of Lithuanian residents aged 20 to 64 in 2023. Face-to-face interviews were carried out within households across the country. The participants were asked about their lifestyle habits and body weight during and after the COVID-19 quarantine. A total of 1500 individuals (742 men and 758 women) participated in the survey. Results Many participants reported that they increased consumption of home-cooked food (34.9%), snacking frequency (29.1%), and the quantity of food eaten (21.3%) during the quarantine. Additionally, almost one in ten respondents increased consumption of homemade confectionery, fast food and home-delivered food. Furthermore, 29.5% of respondents reduced their physical activity, and 22.7% reported an increase in body weight. The likelihood of body weight gain was associated with increased quantity of food eaten and frequency of snacking, increased consumption of confectionery, sweetened drinks and home-delivered food, as well as reduced physical activity. The proportion of respondents who reported the maintenance of the quarantine changes in dietary habits varied from 23.2% to 71.4% in the post-quarantine period. More than 60% of respondents who indicated they increased their consumption of fish, vegetables, fruits and cereals during the quarantine maintained these habits in the post-quarantine period. Even 40.9% of participants maintained the increased habit of ordering food from stores. Body weight gained during the quarantine persisted among 64.3% of the participants, who continued to maintain a high amount of food eaten (37.3%), frequent snacking (36.9%), increased meat consumption (57.7%) and confectionery consumption (40.5%). Conclusions The COVID-19 quarantine significantly affected the nutrition habits and body weight of Lithuanian adults. Many individuals who changed their lifestyle habits and body weight during the quarantine indicated that these changes persisted after the pandemic. The targeted interventions are needed to help individuals develop and maintain healthy lifestyle habits, even in times of crisis.