Tuesday, 12 May 2020
A new study investigating how people’s eating habits and access to food has been affected during lockdown has been launched.
Volunteers from across the UK are needed to take part in the COVID-19 Dietary Study being carried out by the Division of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Nottingham. The online study will provide valuable insight into how the UK's food situation has changed and could be used to inform future research and policy to help improve food supply and security during a pandemic.
We have seen a huge shift in access to food since the start of the pandemic with empty supermarket shelves a common sight and some products still difficult to get. Households may also be less financially secure following a changed employed status or loss of employment. We want to find how these factors have affected people’s diets and eating habits.
Participants in the study will be asked to complete a short online survey to find out about their current food and social situation. Then there is the option to provide a food diary logging food and drinks consumed over four consecutive days (including one weekend day) using an online app.
Simon continues: “By having two parts to the research people can get involved in whatever way suits them best. They can just fill out the online survey or choose to complete the food diary element too. We hope to get a large cross section of society taking part so we can really build a picture of how the pandemic has affected a wide range of people. Our initial findings will be provided to the government to help inform future policy on food supply and security.”
To take part in the survey go to: https://nottingham.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/covid-19-dietary-survey
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Simon Welham on simon.welham@nottingham.ac.uk Jane Icke, Media Relations Manager for the Faculty of Science at the University of Nottingham on jane.icke@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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