With over 100 million Americans under state-mandated lockdowns – and many more self-quarantining in an effort to flatten the coronavirus curve – people are finding themselves stuck at home and out of their routines.
And as a result, 23% of Americans report they’re eating more than normal.
In a similar vein, a quarter of U.S. adults who were dieting have paused or stopped their diet altogether as a result of being homebound, and nearly half have made alterations or exceptions.
Whose Eating Habits Have Shifted?
Women report eating more at a 17% higher rate than men.
And Americans 55 and older report their eating and drinking habits have stayed much steadier than any other age cohort. Gen Z has experienced the most change across the board with 60% saying their eating habits haven’t changed. Gen X appears to be the group with the most people saying they are eating more (29%).
Even exercisers report changes in their eating habits. Both frequent and occasional exercisers say they are eating more since self-quarantine practices were put in place at a higher rate than those who never, or almost never, exercise. And more than a quarter of people who try to stay fit say they have stopped a diet or made exceptions to their eating regimes.
The more someone reports eating at a fast food or casual restaurant, the more likely they are to report eating more as a result of being quarantined.
Nearly half of Americans have changed their eating and/or drinking habits during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. CivicScience data show that those most concerned about public spaces and the spread of the virus are nearly twice as likely to say they have altered or made exceptions to their diet, and they are more likely to say they are eating more in general.
Whether it’s from stress, lack of social interaction, or something else, it’s clear enough when times get tough, many Americans are going to find their comfort within the confines of their refrigerator.
