Pană Adrian, Strilciuc Ștefan, Ileanu Bogdan-Vasile
Center for Health Outcomes & Evaluation, Splaiul Unirii 45, 030126 Bucharest, Romania.
Department of Genomics, MEDFUTURE Institute for Biomedical Research, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Nutrients. 2025 Jan 3;17(1):183. doi: 10.3390/nu17010183.
The global rise in obesity has been significantly influenced by shifts in dietary habits that have been exacerbated by external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to analyze the trends in Romanian dietary habits from 2015 to 2023, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of socio-economic factors, seasonality, and cultural practices.
For dietary habits, we used nationally representative data from the Romanian Household Budget Survey provided by the Romanian National Institute of Statistics. The survey includes 30,000 households annually. From the same provider, we downloaded data about potential drivers of food consumption, such as income, the consumer price index, and the unemployment rate. The analysis mixes descriptive statistics and panel data analysis. Among the main drivers, the econometric models include seasonality and regional factors, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the changes in dietary behavior.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, daily calorie consumption increased to over 3000 calories per person, representing a 20% increase compared to the pre-pandemic period. Post-pandemic, food consumption remains elevated, averaging 2500-2600 calories per person daily. The pandemic also led to a shift in dietary composition, with significant changes. Thus, we mark an increase in fat ( < 0.001) and carbohydrate intake ( < 0.01) and a decrease in protein intake ( < 0.001). Beyond the presence of health disruptors, we confirm the significant impact of income ( < 0.001) and seasonality ( < 0.001). Other factors like unemployment, the consumer price index, and hidden regional factors have a minor role.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on Romanian dietary habits, reinforcing unhealthy eating patterns that were already prevalent. The sustained increase in calorie consumption, particularly of nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods, poses a significant public health challenge. The study also highlights significant seasonal variations, with a marked increase in food intake during the last quarter of the year, driven by cultural and religious traditions. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions and policies that address economic factors and cultural and regional influences to promote healthier dietary behaviors in Romania.
全球肥胖率的上升受到饮食习惯变化的显著影响，而诸如新冠疫情等外部因素使这种影响进一步加剧。本研究旨在分析2015年至2023年罗马尼亚饮食习惯的趋势，重点关注新冠疫情的影响以及社会经济因素、季节性和文化习俗的作用。
对于饮食习惯，我们使用了罗马尼亚国家统计局提供的罗马尼亚家庭预算调查中的全国代表性数据。该调查每年涵盖30000个家庭。我们从同一机构下载了有关食品消费潜在驱动因素的数据，如收入、消费价格指数和失业率。分析采用描述性统计和面板数据分析相结合的方法。在主要驱动因素中，计量经济模型包括季节性和区域因素，以全面了解饮食行为的变化。
在新冠疫情期间，人均每日卡路里摄入量增加到3000卡路里以上，与疫情前相比增加了20%。疫情后，食品消费仍居高不下，人均每日平均为2500 - 2600卡路里。疫情还导致饮食结构发生变化，出现了显著改变。具体而言，我们发现脂肪摄入量增加（<0.001）、碳水化合物摄入量增加（<0.01），而蛋白质摄入量减少（<0.001）。除了健康干扰因素外，我们证实了收入（<0.001）和季节性（<0.001）的重大影响。其他因素，如失业率、消费价格指数和隐藏的区域因素作用较小。
新冠疫情对罗马尼亚饮食习惯产生了持久影响，强化了本已普遍存在的不健康饮食模式。卡路里摄入量持续增加，尤其是低营养、高能量食品的摄入增加，对公众健康构成了重大挑战。该研究还突出了显著的季节性差异，受文化和宗教传统影响，每年最后一个季度的食物摄入量显著增加。这些发现强调了需要有针对性的公共卫生干预措施和政策，以应对经济因素以及文化和区域影响因素，从而在罗马尼亚促进更健康饮食行为。
