Dietary Habits and Choices before and during COVID-19 Pandemic Among Medical Students of Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: COVID-19 pandemic which was emerged in China and in December 2019 but later it was become
a pandemic and Pakistan also get affected from it due to which all educational institution gets closed on 14th
March. This study was aimed to explore the changes in dietary habits and choices among medical students of
Pakistan.
Methods: An online survey was conducted in June 2020 involving 385 medical and dental students of the age
(16-31years) from different medical colleges. After providing informed consent participants complete this
online survey.
Results: Majority students were having normal BMI (18.5-24.9) having no dietary problem and not currently
losing weight. Majority of students used to skip meals before COVID-19 but during COVID-19 this ratio
lessened out, the ratio to eat in between meals had increased as 260(79%) females and 43(76.8%) males
during the period of COVID-19 but the habit to eat at night was same before and during COVID-19. About the
preference of food, we found that student's preference towards fresh fruits, pasta and rice, bread /cereals,
pulses, snacks, fruit juices, soft/fizzy drinks, tea/coffee, milk remained the same. Preference of cakes and ice-
cream, pizza, packed/readymade food decreased during COVID-19.
Conclusion: Healthy preferences and habits during COVID-19 among medical students were founded in this
study