Page 27 - Petelin, Ana. 2020. Ed. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije / Health of the Working-Age Population. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 27
After dividing the participants in two groups based on HEI scores on B, the influence of gut microbiota and probiotics on children health 25
the groups did not differ in EI on B nor during Q. HEI dropped significantly
only in HEI>66 (B: 78.3 ± 6.1, Q: 73.0 ± 7.1, P=0.000), while in HEI<66, HEI re-
mained unchanged (B: 53.2 ± 9.2, Q: 53.1 ± 10.0, P=0.967).
Discussion
Our study was the first to compare nutritional data before and during Q.
We observed a significant drop in EI which was surprising, as studies which
retrospectively assessed changes in diet due to Q reported increased EI (Scar-
mozzino and Visioli, 2020). Change in EI might have followed the change in
PA, which also dropped significantly during Q, due to lower work-related PA
and less free time PA, which were direct consequences of the Q. Besides lower
PA, other potential side effects of Q have been pointed out, such as weight gain
and behavioural addiction disorders and lower diet quality (Lippi et al, 2020).
Only three participants, however, reported an increase in BM >3 kg during Q,
suggesting that the observed lowered EI was adequate.
Diet quality, on the other hand, did drop significantly. Significantly low-
er scores were observed for seafood and plant proteins and sodium HEI com-
ponents which reflects limitations in fresh food acquisition during Q Most of
the participants bought food just once a week or once or twice in four weeks.
It was shown that food availability at home leads to a higher consumption of
snacks and may lead to lower diet quality (Gorin et al, 2011). There was a trend
in increase of appetite for sweet in our participants, but general appetite and
appetite for snacks did not show any significant changes. Change in econom-
ic status and available time for food preparation could be the reasons for wors-
ening diet quality. Many people assume that people have more free time dur-
ing Q, but working from home, babysitting and teaching children may lead to
less free time and more stress (Fister 2020). Interestingly, participants who had
higher HEI before Q had significant drop in HEI score during Q, while HEI did
not change in the group with lower HEI at B. This is worrying as people with
a healthier lifestyle decreased its quality. Unhealthy diet and physical inactiv-
ity are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and metabolic
syndrome (Paniagua 2016) obesity is a major public health problem, affecting
in greater or lesser proportion all demographic groups. Obesity is estimated by
body mass index (BMI, which themselves are risk factors for worse COVID-19
outcomes (Hamer et al, 2020). Higher PA and HEI were associated with low-
er risk of cardiovascular diseases, different types of cancers and all-cause mor-
tality (Onvani et al, 2017). Q may thus have negative health consequences be-
cause of changes in lifestyle and diet. Prospective studies of metabolic markers
are needed to observe that.
the groups did not differ in EI on B nor during Q. HEI dropped significantly
only in HEI>66 (B: 78.3 ± 6.1, Q: 73.0 ± 7.1, P=0.000), while in HEI<66, HEI re-
mained unchanged (B: 53.2 ± 9.2, Q: 53.1 ± 10.0, P=0.967).
Discussion
Our study was the first to compare nutritional data before and during Q.
We observed a significant drop in EI which was surprising, as studies which
retrospectively assessed changes in diet due to Q reported increased EI (Scar-
mozzino and Visioli, 2020). Change in EI might have followed the change in
PA, which also dropped significantly during Q, due to lower work-related PA
and less free time PA, which were direct consequences of the Q. Besides lower
PA, other potential side effects of Q have been pointed out, such as weight gain
and behavioural addiction disorders and lower diet quality (Lippi et al, 2020).
Only three participants, however, reported an increase in BM >3 kg during Q,
suggesting that the observed lowered EI was adequate.
Diet quality, on the other hand, did drop significantly. Significantly low-
er scores were observed for seafood and plant proteins and sodium HEI com-
ponents which reflects limitations in fresh food acquisition during Q Most of
the participants bought food just once a week or once or twice in four weeks.
It was shown that food availability at home leads to a higher consumption of
snacks and may lead to lower diet quality (Gorin et al, 2011). There was a trend
in increase of appetite for sweet in our participants, but general appetite and
appetite for snacks did not show any significant changes. Change in econom-
ic status and available time for food preparation could be the reasons for wors-
ening diet quality. Many people assume that people have more free time dur-
ing Q, but working from home, babysitting and teaching children may lead to
less free time and more stress (Fister 2020). Interestingly, participants who had
higher HEI before Q had significant drop in HEI score during Q, while HEI did
not change in the group with lower HEI at B. This is worrying as people with
a healthier lifestyle decreased its quality. Unhealthy diet and physical inactiv-
ity are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and metabolic
syndrome (Paniagua 2016) obesity is a major public health problem, affecting
in greater or lesser proportion all demographic groups. Obesity is estimated by
body mass index (BMI, which themselves are risk factors for worse COVID-19
outcomes (Hamer et al, 2020). Higher PA and HEI were associated with low-
er risk of cardiovascular diseases, different types of cancers and all-cause mor-
tality (Onvani et al, 2017). Q may thus have negative health consequences be-
cause of changes in lifestyle and diet. Prospective studies of metabolic markers
are needed to observe that.
