With the onset of the coronavirus crisis, disruption of the domestic food supply chain, loss of revenue, and payments that affect food production have led to severe tensions and food security risks in many developing countries. The rural communities are more at risk of food insecurity due to less access to healthcare and social inequality. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security and food diversity of rural households. The sample included 375 household heads living in the rural areas of Khorramabad county, which was determined using a three-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using standard Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) questionnaires. The results showed that the food security situation of rural households has deteriorated, and consumption of some food groups changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the multinomial regression model showed that gender, level of education, monthly income, number of employed members, nutrition knowledge, employment status, livestock ownership, and access to credit were significantly associated with the food security of households during the COVID-19 pandemic. The household head's gender, level of education, monthly income, nutrition knowledge, employment status, livestock ownership, and access to credit were significantly associated with dietary diversity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the findings, providing emergency food assistance and cash payments to food-insecure households can reduce the risk of food insecurity in rural households. It is suggested that government policies focus on identifying vulnerable households in rural areas, especially female-headed households, low-income households, and households without a wage income.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Security and Food Diversity of Iranian Rural Households

Purchasing food via community-level grassroots organizations was a new pattern of food patronage for Wuhan residents during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, but little attention was paid to it. The study examined the relationship between community-level grassroots organizations and household food insecurity based on an online survey of household food insecurity in Wuhan in March 2020. The study found that problems in all three domains of food insecurity including food anxiety, insufficient quality and inadequate quantity existed but were uneven. Community-level grassroots organizations played an important role in promoting food security including reducing worries about food supply and providing enough food intake, but did not ensure households had adequate food quality due to increasing food prices, fewer varieties of food and decreased food freshness. Compared to other grassroots organizations, the community committee had actually become an extension of the government to run administrative grassroots affairs before the epidemic, so its tight relationship with local government made it become the major grassroots power in ensuring household food security at the residential community level. 

Impacts of community-level grassroots organizations on household food security during the COVID-19 epidemic period in China

This study investigates the prevalence of household food insecurity and child hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the relationships between household income and the occurrence of child hunger. Socio-demographic characteristics, including monthly household income, gender, and age of the surveyed child were parent-reported. The validated 10-item Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument was adopted to assess household food insecurity, parental food insecurity, and child hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study revealed that children from low-income and food-insecure households were significantly at a heightened risk for child hunger. In conclusion, the pandemic lockdowns exacerbated child hunger in low-income households. Children from low-income households need continued assistance in alleviating hunger during the COVID-19 global economic recession. 

Household Income and its Correlation with Child Hunger During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract This study examines the weight trajectory of Malaysian adults and its associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic information and anthropometric measurements, including body height (cm) and body weights (kg) before and during the pandemic, were self-reported by the respondents. The current study showed that 47.8% (using absolute weight change status) and 25.5% (using relative weight change status) of the adults gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adults who were previously underweight or had a normal BMI experienced significantly higher body weight (under-weight: t= -6.176, p< 0.001 and normal: t= -6.193, p< 0.001) and BMI (underweight: t= -6.127, p< 0.001 and normal: t= -5.982, p< 0.001) during the pandemic. No significant associations were observed between socio-demographic characteristics and the weight status of the respondents, except for ethnicity (χ2= 12.858, p= 0.045). The stay-at-home orders appeared to drive up the prevalence of over-weight/obesity, BMI, and absolute and relative weight gain in Malaysian adults. The increase was mainly associated with higher body weight and BMI among those previously underweight or had a normal BMI. Gender, age, marital status, and educational level were not associated with weight trajectory during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of this study may be useful in formulating weight management strategies in the post-pandemic era.

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Weight trajectory during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Malaysia

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the correlation between psychological distress and weight change in Malaysian young adults after the pandemic-led lockdowns. Socio-demographics, body height, body weight during the Movement Control Order 3.0 (MCO 3.0), and post-lockdown body weight (as of January 2022) were self-reported by the young adults. Psychological distress was assessed using a validated 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Of the 536 young adults, 54.1% experienced mild to extremely severe anxiety, 47.0% suffered mild to extremely severe depression, and 30.0% experienced mild to extremely severe stress in the post-lockdown pandemic phase. In reference to absolute weight change, 50.6% of the young adults gained weight due to confinement, with an average weight gain of 3.41 ± 2.49 kg. Conversely, 32.0% of the young adults had a lighter weight during the MCO 3.0 than before, with an average weight loss of 3.96 ± 2.76 kg. Additionally, the trajectory in body weight was also expressed in relative weight change. Findings revealed that 23.1% of the young adults gained weight in the post-lockdown pandemic phase, with an average relative weight gain of 9.04 ± 3.90%. On the contrary, approximately one-fifth (17.4%) of the young adults lost weight, with an average relative weight loss of −8.57 ± 2.79%. There were no significant correlations (p> 0.05) between depression, anxiety, and stress with absolute or relative weight change, even after controlling for the socio-demographic variation among young adults. The federal government of Malaysia should take necessary actions to alleviate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and reiterate the importance of sustaining a healthy body weight in young adults.

Psychological distress and its correlation with weight change in young adults in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) isolation has altered individuals' food purchasing behaviour and dietary intake patterns. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the changes in dietary intake patterns and their impacts on the weight status of young adults in Malaysia during the COVID-19 lockdown.This cross-sectional study involved 1045 young adults in Malaysia. The changes in dietary intake patterns were assessed using the Dietary Diversity Questionnaire with slight modifications, while anthropometric measurements including body height, body weight before the pandemic and current body weight were self-reported.Overall, nearly half of the respondents (48.8%) gained weight during the confinement, with an average increment of 4.06 ± 3.23 kg. Of 1045, 45.3% reported consuming more fruits and 60.2% had higher plain water intake during the pandemic. It is observed that 41.0% to 66.8% of the young adults changed their dietary intake patterns during the pandemic. Increased consumption in cereals and grains (β = 0.084, p = 0.015, 95% CI = 0.017-0.160), as well as oils and fats (β = 0.123, p = 0.001, 95% CI = 0.059-0.241), was positively associated with weight gain during the pandemic. On the contrary, an increased plain water intake was negatively associated with weight gain during the lockdown (β = -0.100, p = 0.003, 95% CI = -0.171--0.034). Findings in the current study also suggested that cutting back cereals and grains (β = 0.156, p < 0.001, 95% CI = 0.122-0.288), as well as oils and fats (β = 0.091, p = 0.012, 95% CI = 0.022-0.183), contributed significantly to weight loss during the pandemic confinement.In conclusion, the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) drove up the prevalence of overweight/obesity among young adults in Malaysia. Increased consumption of cereals and grains and oils and fats contributed to weight gain in the pandemic lockdown. Nonetheless, a noticeable proportion of young adults in Malaysia shifted to a healthier food choice by increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables. 

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Changes in Dietary Intake Patterns and Weight Status during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Study Focusing on Young Adults in Malaysia

Pulasan (Nephelium mutabile Blume) is an underutilized fruit native to tropical countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. To date, the medicinal potential of pulasan remains unexplored, although this fruit shares the same genus with the well-known rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum). Therefore, the current study aims to examine the antioxidant properties of different parts of pulasan (flesh, rind, and kernel) and investigate the bioactive profile, anti-hypertensive and hypoglycemic properties of pulasan rind. Pulasan were extracted using different solvents, including distilled water, methanol, and ethanol. The antioxidant capacity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and the antioxidant component was identified by total flavonoid content (TFC) and total phenolic content (TPC). The bioactive profile of pulasan rind was characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The anti-hypertensive and hypoglycemic properties of pulasan rind were determined with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) assay and alpha-amylase inhibition assay, respectively. Emerging findings revealed that pulasan rind exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity (DPPH, TEAC, and FRAP) in all extraction solvents and antioxidant components (TPC and TFC) in ethanolic extract. The ethanolic extracts of pulasan rind also had higher ACE and alpha-amylase inhibition activities than the distilled water extracts. Geraniin, chlorogenic acid, catechin, corilagin, syringic acid, and naringenin of pulasan rind may function as anti-hypertensive agents. 

https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/10/3/592/pdf?version=1647587618

A. Y. Grigorev

Papers

Changes in Dietary Intake Patterns and Weight Status during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Study Focusing on Young Adults in Malaysia

The Anti-Hypertensive and Hypoglycemic Potential of Bioactive Compounds Derived from Pulasan Rind

Bioactive Phytochemicals from Peanut Oil-Processing By-Products