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Piece of Cake: Food Choices During the COVID-19 Pandemic [Funder: Carleton University COVID-19 Rapid Research Response Grants]

Grant number: unknown

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Key facts

  • Disease

    COVID-19

  • Funder

    Other Funders (Canada)

  • Principal Investigator

    Melissa Chee, Hymie Anisman, Kim Matheson

  • Research Location

    Canada

  • Lead Research Institution

    Carleton University

  • Research Priority Alignment

    N/A

  • Research Category

    Policies for public health, disease control & community resilience

  • Research Subcategory

    Approaches to public health interventions

  • Special Interest Tags

    N/A

  • Study Type

    Non-Clinical

  • Clinical Trial Details

    N/A

  • Broad Policy Alignment

    Pending

  • Age Group

    Unspecified

  • Vulnerable Population

    Unspecified

  • Occupations of Interest

    Unspecified

Abstract

COVID-19 has produced pronounced stress as we manage physical distancing or self-isolation. Feeling stressed leads some of us to crave comfort foods, which might serve as a way of coping, regardless of whether we are aware of it or not. When stress is chronic, the increased consumption of tasty comfort foods may lead to weight gain and even obesity. Inflammatory factors produced by fat cells, particularly around the belly, increase the risk for immune- and inflammatory-related diseases, like diabetes and heart disease. Notably, obesity and its comorbid diseases are serious risk factors for COVID-19 complications. This online research survey will gather data on the effects of stress, mood, and mental state on our food choices during the COVID-19 quarantine. This is concerning not only because of potential effects on the severity of COVID-19, but also because the ramifications for mental and physical health may persist during the post-pandemic period.