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Cited by 287COVID-19 and Mental HealthNutrition, Health and Food BehaviorCOVID-19 Prevention and Impact

Global changes and factors of increase in caloric/salty food intake, screen use, and substance use during the early COVID-19 containment phase in the general population in France: survey study

Open access
Rolland, Benjamin, Haesebaert, Frédéric, Zante, Elodie, Benyamina, Amine, Haesebaert, Julie, Franck, Nicolas·2020·JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
DOI 10.2196/19630PMC PMC7505683

Published version of a preprint

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Abstract

Background: The international outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led many countries to enforce drastic containment measures. It has been suggested that this abrupt lockdown of populations will foster addiction-related habits such as caloric/salty food intake, screen use, and substance use. Objective: Our aim was to assess the global changes and factors of increase in addiction-related habits during the early COVID-19 containment phase in France. Methods: A web-based survey was provided from day 8 to day 13 of the containment and was completed by 11,391 participants. The questions explored sociodemographic features, psychiatric/addiction history, material conditions of lockdown, general stress, mental well-being, and reported changes in several addiction-related behaviors. Global changes were described and factors of increase were explored using population-weighted and adjusted logistic regression models, providing adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and their 95% confidence intervals. Results: Overall, the respondents reported more increases in addiction-related habits than decreases, specifically 28.4% (caloric/salty food intake), 64.6% (screen use), 35.6% (tobacco use), 24.8% (alcohol use), and 31.2% (cannabis use). Reduced well-being scores and increased stress scores were general factors of increase in addiction-related habits (P<.001 for all habits). Factors of increase in caloric/salty food intake (n=10,771) were female gender (aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.48-1.77), age less than 29 years (P<.001), having a partner (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.06-1.35), being locked down in a more confined space (per 1 square meter/person decrease: aOR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03), being locked down alone (aOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.11-1.49), and reporting current (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.62-2.31) or past (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09-1.47) psychiatric treatment. Factors of increase in screen use (n=11,267) were female gender (aOR 1.31, 95% CI 1.21-1.43), age less than 29 years (P<.001), having no partner (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.06-1.32), being employed (P<.001), intermediate/high education level (P<.001), being locked down with no access to an outdoor space (aOR 1.16, 95% CI 1.05-1.29), being locked down alone (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.32), living in an urban environment (P<.01), and not working (P<.001). Factors of increase in tobacco use (n=2787) were female gender (aOR 1.31, 95% CI 1.11-1.55), having no partner (aOR 1.30, 95% CI 1.06-1.59), intermediate/low education level (P<.01), and still working in the workplace (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.17-1.86). Factors of increase in alcohol use (n=7108) were age 30-49 years (P<.05), a high level of education (P<.001), and current psychiatric treatment (aOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.10-1.88). The only significant factor of increase in cannabis use (n=620) was intermediate/low level of education (P<.001). Conclusions: The early phase of COVID-19 containment in France led to widespread increases in addiction-related habits in the general population. Reduced well-being and increased stress were universal factors of increase. More specific factors were associated with increases in each of the explored habits.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

A French web-based survey during the early COVID-19 lockdown found that increases in caloric/salty food intake, screen use, and tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use were more common than decreases. Reduced well-being and increased stress were universal factors of increase, while sociodemographic and lockdown-condition factors differed by habit.

Key findings

  • Among 11,391 respondents, reported increases were 28.4% for caloric/salty food intake, 64.6% for screen use, 35.6% for tobacco use, 24.8% for alcohol use, and 31.2% for cannabis use.
  • Reduced well-being scores and increased stress scores were general factors of increase in addiction-related habits (P<.001 for all habits).
  • Caloric/salty food increase was associated with female gender (aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.48-1.77), age <29 years, having a partner (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.06-1.35), less living space (per 1 m²/person decrease: aOR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03), being locked down alone (aOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.11-1.49), and current (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.62-2.31) or past (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09-1.47) psychiatric treatment.
  • Screen use increase was associated with female gender (aOR 1.31, 95% CI 1.21-1.43), age <29 years, no partner (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.06-1.32), no outdoor access (aOR 1.16, 95% CI 1.05-1.29), and being locked down alone (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.32); tobacco increase with female gender (aOR 1.31, 95% CI 1.11-1.55), no partner (aOR 1.30, 95% CI 1.06-1.59), and still working in the workplace (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.17-1.86); alcohol increase with age 30-49 years, high education, and current psychiatric treatment (aOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.10-1.88); cannabis increase only with intermediate/low education (P<.001).

Methods

  • A web-based survey (LockUwell) launched March 25, 2020, day 8 of French containment; data extracted March 30, 2020. Of 20,235 starters, 11,742 completed, and 11,391 questionnaires (56.3%) were included after exclusions.
  • Recruitment used convenience sampling via social media and national media; eligibility was French-speaking people older than 16 years living in France at containment declaration, with one questionnaire per IP address.
  • Analyses were weighted to French census targets for age and gender; descriptive statistics and weighted logistic regression models provided raw and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% CIs for factors associated with increases in each habit.

Limitations

  • Stated in the paper: the survey used a convenience sample with no a priori representativeness; despite weighting, some groups may be overrepresented or underrepresented, and illiterate people may have had difficulty participating. Cannabis use was likely underreported (5.4% in sample vs 11% estimated in French adults), possibly due to social desirability bias.
  • Stated in the paper: “screen use” was imprecise and could include gaming, social networking, or teleworking; data covered only the early lockdown phase; interrelations between habit changes were not explored; and change assessment was subjective with no quantification of amounts or time.
  • Evident from the text: the cross-sectional design cannot establish causality, and all exposure and outcome measures relied on self-report.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.2196/19630

Cites

27 of 27 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 28 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Age less than 29 years was associated with increased odds of increase in caloric/salty food intake (P<.001).

    “Factors of increase in caloric/salty food intake (n=10,771) were female gender (aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.48-1.77), age less than 29 years (P<.001)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Participants' self-reported changes in addiction-related habits accurately reflect their actual changes in those habits.
  • Findingown data

    Female gender was associated with increased odds of increase in caloric/salty food intake (aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.48-1.77).

    “Factors of increase in caloric/salty food intake (n=10,771) were female gender (aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.48-1.77)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Participants' self-reported changes in addiction-related habits accurately reflect their actual changes in those habits.
  • Findingown data

    Increased stress scores were associated with increased odds of increase in all explored addiction-related habits (caloric/salty food, screen, tobacco, alcohol, cannabis), P<.001 for all.

    “Reduced well-being scores and increased stress scores were general factors of increase in addiction-related habits (P<.001 for all habits).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Participants' self-reported changes in addiction-related habits accurately reflect their actual changes in those habits.
  • Findingown data

    Among respondents, 28.4% reported increased caloric/salty food intake during the early COVID-19 containment phase in France.

    “specifically 28.4% (caloric/salty food intake)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Participants' self-reported changes in addiction-related habits accurately reflect their actual changes in those habits.
  • Findingown data

    Among respondents, 64.6% reported increased screen use during the early COVID-19 containment phase in France.

    “64.6% (screen use)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Participants' self-reported changes in addiction-related habits accurately reflect their actual changes in those habits.
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 3
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 16
  • May combine two claims. 24

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Among cannabis users, 31.2% reported increased cannabis use during the early COVID-19 containment phase in France.

    “31.2% (cannabis use)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Participants' self-reported changes in addiction-related habits accurately reflect their actual changes in those habits.

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Among alcohol users, 24.8% reported increased alcohol use during the early COVID-19 containment phase in France.

    “24.8% (alcohol use)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Participants' self-reported changes in addiction-related habits accurately reflect their actual changes in those habits.

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Among smokers, 35.6% reported increased tobacco use during the early COVID-19 containment phase in France.

    “35.6% (tobacco use)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Participants' self-reported changes in addiction-related habits accurately reflect their actual changes in those habits.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The weighted sample consisted of 52.1% female respondents with a mean age of 47.47 years (SD 17.28).

    “The weighted sample consisted of 52.1% female respondents with a mean age of 47.47 years (SD 17.28).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Respondents who increased their intake in caloric/salty foods were primarily young women who were living in smaller dwellings and were locked down alone.

    “Respondents who increased their intake in caloric/salty foods were primarily young women who were living in smaller dwellings and were locked down alone.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Among tobacco smokers, the main risk factors for increased smoking were being female, age less than 50 years, being single, and low level of education.

    “Among tobacco smokers, the main risk factors for increased smoking were also being female, age less than 50 years, being single, and low level of education.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Survey respondents who reported increasing their screen use were more likely to be female, less than 30 years of age, single, locked down alone, living in an urban area, without access to an outdoor space, and not working.

    “Survey respondents who reported increasing their screen use were more likely to be female, less than 30 years of age, single, locked down alone, living in an urban area, without access to an outdoor space, and not working.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Studies of individuals enrolled in armed forces during conflicts revealed that their social interactions were dramatically reduced and their substance use increased in parallel.

    “studies that investigated individuals enrolled in armed forces during conflicts, which revealed that the social interactions of the individuals were dramatically reduced and that their substance use increased in parallel.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The French version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) is a validated scale of 14 items measuring mental well-being in the general population.

    “the French version [8] of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), which is a validated scale of 14 items that are rated from 1 to 5, leading to a single total score ranging from 14 (ie, minimum possible well-being) to 70 (ie, maximum possible well-being) to measure mental well-being in the general population [9]”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [8] source

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    • cites [9] source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The early impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the related lockdown appear to be associated with substantial increases in the intake of caloric/salty food as well as in screen and substance use among the French population.

    “The early impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the related lockdown thus appear to be associated with substantial increases in the intake of caloric/salty food as well as in screen and substance use among the French population.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    There was no preliminary assessment of the test-retest reliability or the internal consistency of the questionnaire.

    “There was no preliminary assessment of the test-retest reliability or the internal consistency of the questionnaire”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Several tools included in the questionnaire were previously validated in international studies.

    “however, several tools included in it were previously validated in international studies.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Previous situations of reduced well-being and impaired social environment have been found to be associated with overeating and being overweight as well as increased substance and screen use.

    “Previous situations of reduced well-being and impaired social environment have been found to be associated with overeating and being overweight as well as increased substance and screen use [3-5].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [3] source

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    • cites [4] source

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    • cites [5] source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Only one questionnaire could be submitted from a particular IP address to prevent multiple completions.

    “To prevent individuals from completing the questionnaire multiple times, only one questionnaire could be submitted from a particular IP address.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    All descriptive and statistical tests were conducted using weighting variables.

    “All descriptive and statistical tests were conducted using weighting variables.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Multicollinearity was screened using the variance inflation factor and the COLLIN option in SAS.

    “Multicollinearity was screened using the variance inflation factor and the COLLIN option in SAS.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Lee Robins' studies among US soldiers sent to Vietnam in the 1970s found an important reduction in social interactions accompanied by an important increase in opioid use during their presence in the field; these patterns rapidly and almost completely disappeared after the soldiers returned home.

    “studies by Lee Robins [15] among US soldiers who were sent to Vietnam in the 1970s found an important reduction in social interactions accompanied by an important increase in the use of opioids by soldiers during their presence in the field; meanwhile, these patterns of use rapidly and almost completely disappeared after the soldiers returned home.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [15] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Female gender, younger age, lower socioeconomic status, and psychological distress are the main factors associated with tobacco use.

    “female gender, younger age, lower socioeconomic status, and psychological distress are the main factors associated with tobacco use [24].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [24] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The notion of "screen use" can involve many habits, such as video gaming, social networking, or teleworking; the interview may have lacked precision on this point, making interpretation of participants' answers more difficult.

    “Another limitation pertains to what is conveyed under the notion of “screen use,” which can actually involve many habits, such as video gaming, social networking, or teleworking. The interview may thus have lacked precision on this point, and interpreting the participants’ answers may thus have been more difficult.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    62.40% of the sample declared that they used alcohol; the rate of French adults who used alcohol at least once per year in 2018 was 87%, while the rate of adults who used alcohol at least once a week was 49%.

    “62.40% of our sample declared that they used alcohol; meanwhile, the rate of French adults who used alcohol at least once per year in 2018 was 87%, while the rate of adults who used alcohol at least once a week was 49% [30].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [30] Alcohol in France: thematic synthesis. Webpage in FrenchObservatoire Français des Drogues et Toxicomanies20182020-04-18https://www.ofdt.fr/produits-et-addictions/de-z/alcool/

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The early phase of COVID-19 containment in France was associated with a substantial proportion of survey respondents reporting increased caloric/salty food intake, screen use, and tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use.

    “The early phase of COVID-19 containment in France was associated with a substantial proportion of survey respondents reporting increased caloric/salty food intake, screen use, and tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The increases found in the survey were hypothesized in a recent literature report, and this contribution provides the first data supporting these assumptions.

    “The increases found in our survey were hypothesized in a recent literature report [6]; however, our contribution provides the first data supporting these assumptions.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [6] source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • Rests on an assumption: No previous study has assessed the impact of a national COVID-19 containment measure on eating habits, screen use, or substance use.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The study was a web-based survey performed on a convenience sample with no a priori representativeness of the French population.

    “Our study was a web-based survey performed on a convenience sample with no a priori representativeness of the French population.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The analyses were weighted based on several basic sociodemographic parameters.

    “Although our analyses were weighted based on several basic sociodemographic parameters”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The data analyzed only pertained to the early phase of the lockdown, and it is possible that several findings reflected short-term adjustment behaviors that may not be durably sustained over the remaining phase of the lockdown.

    “An additional limitation is that the data we analyzed only pertained to the early phase of the lockdown, and it is perfectly possible that several findings reflected short-term adjustment behaviors that may not be durably sustained over the remaining phase of the lockdown.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    It cannot be excluded that important parts of the French population were overrepresented or underrepresented, which may have had an impact on the findings.

    “we cannot exclude the possibility that important parts of the French population were overrepresented or underrepresented, which may have had an impact on our findings.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Stress is a well-demonstrated risk factor of increasing screen use; it is more expressed in younger people, although usually more commonly in men.

    “Stress is also a well-demonstrated risk factor of increasing screen use; it is more expressed in younger people, although usually more commonly in men [18,19].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [18] source

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    • cites [19] source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    A previous study found that increased use of the internet in a stressful environment was more frequent in young people living in urban areas.

    “a previous study found that increased use of the internet in a stressful environment was more frequent in young people living in urban areas [23].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [23] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Previous studies have demonstrated that emotional eating in stressful environments is more common in women.

    “Previous studies have demonstrated that emotional eating in stressful environments is more common in women [16,17].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [16] source

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    • cites [17] source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    People who use cannabis and tobacco in France are globally younger, have lower income, and are less educated.

    “as people who use cannabis and tobacco in France are globally younger, have lower income, and are less educated [25,26].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [25] source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    A gap was found for cannabis use; 5.4% of the sample reported using this substance, whereas the rate of current users in the adult French population is estimated to reach 11%.

    “a gap was found for cannabis use; 5.4% of our sample reported using this substance, whereas the rate of current users in the adult French population is estimated to reach 11% [27].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [27] Cannabis: Synthèse des connaissancesObservatoire français des drogues et des toxicomanies20172017-12-27https://www.ofdt.fr/produits-et-addictions/de-z/cannabis/

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The profiles of individuals who increased their habits displayed shared features, particularly poorer well-being and increased stress; however, specificities between each type of increase also revealed some populational singularities, particularly related to gender, age category, and level of education.

    “Furthermore, the profiles of individuals who increased their habits displayed shared features, particularly poorer well-being and increased stress; however, specificities between each type of increase also revealed some populational singularities, particularly related to gender, age category, and level of education.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Living alone in a smaller space or reporting past or current treatment for psychiatric disorder can be seen as additional sources of stress.

    “In this context, living alone in a smaller space or reporting past or current treatment for psychiatric disorder can be seen as additional sources of stress.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The study did not explore the interrelations in the changes between habits, and thus did not explore overlaps in terms of affected populations.

    “Another limitation is that we did not explore the interrelations in the changes between habits; thus, we did not explore overlaps in terms of affected populations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The assessment of how individual habits had changed was entirely subjective with no precise quantification in either terms of amounts or time, which limits the accuracy of the data.

    “Finally, the assessment of how individual habits had changed was entirely subjective with no precise quantification in either terms of amounts or time, which limits the accuracy of the data.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Not working was previously found to be associated with increased internet use.

    “Similarly, not working was previously found to be associated with increased internet use [22].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [22] source

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36 of 36

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Participants' self-reported changes in addiction-related habits accurately reflect their actual changes in those habits.

    “The response modalities were 1) no usual use; 2) no change in use; 3) decrease with craving/withdrawal; 4) decrease without craving/withdrawal; 5) increase (moderate); and 6) increase (difficult to control).”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Weighting by age and gender alone corrects for selection bias in the web-based convenience sample, making it representative of the French general population aged 16 years and older.

    “To ensure respondents were representative of French residents aged 16 years and older, the data were weighted to French census targets for age and gender based on distributions reported in 2020 [11].”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The observed changes in addiction-related habits are attributable to the COVID-19 containment rather than other concurrent factors.

    “The early phase of COVID-19 containment in France led to widespread increases in addiction-related habits in the general population.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The survey respondents who completed the questionnaire are not systematically different from those who started but did not complete.

    “Among the 20,235 participants who started the questionnaire, 11,742 (58.0%) completed it. After excluding inoperable questionnaires and respondents from countries other than France, 11,391/20,235 questionnaires (56.3%) were included in the analyses.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No previous study has assessed the impact of a national COVID-19 containment measure on eating habits, screen use, or substance use.

    “To our knowledge, no previous study has assessed the impact of a national COVID-19 containment measure on eating habits, screen use, or substance use.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In humans, epidemiological studies on abrupt reduction in social interaction at the population level are relatively uncommon.

    “In humans, epidemiological studies on this topic are more limited, as situations of abrupt reduction in social interaction at the population level are relatively uncommon.”
6 of 6

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • In Rolland et al. (2020), female gender aged <29 years, being locked down in a more confined space, being locked down alone, and current or past psychiatric treatment were factors of increased caloric/salty food intake.

    “Not surprisingly, female gender who were aged <29 years were locked down in a more confined space, were locked down alone, and reported to have current or past psychiatric treatment all were the factors of increased caloric/salty food intake.”

    From Eating Disorders Spectrum During the COVID Pandemic: A Systematic Review (2021) · cites this paper as Rolland et al. (2020)

  • In Rolland et al. (2020) French web survey of more than 11,000 participants, respondents reported an increase in caloric/salty food intake (28.4%).

    “Apparently, respondents reported an increase in all evaluated addiction-related habits, including caloric/salty food (28.4%).”

    From Eating Disorders Spectrum During the COVID Pandemic: A Systematic Review (2021) · cites this paper as Rolland et al. (2020)

  • In Rolland et al. (2020), use/abuse of caloric foods was underrepresented compared with screen use/abuse (64.6%), tobacco (35.6%), and cannabis use (31.2%), and more represented than alcohol use (24.8%).

    “However, the use/abuse of caloric foods was underrepresented if compared with screen use/abuse (64.6%), or tobacco (35.6%) and cannabis use (31.2%), and more represented than alcohol use (24.8%).”

    From Eating Disorders Spectrum During the COVID Pandemic: A Systematic Review (2021) · cites this paper as Rolland et al. (2020)

  • The type of home confinement modified both subjective well-being and addiction-related habits, including caloric/salty food.

    “The type of home confinement (with family members, in small places, alone, or with a partner, etc.) modified both subjective well-being and addiction-related habits, including caloric/salty food (Rolland et al., 2020).”

    From Eating Disorders Spectrum During the COVID Pandemic: A Systematic Review (2021) · cites this paper as Rolland et al., 2020

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Discussion assigns the food-intake increase count to screen use

    Major

    The discussion says 4125 participants increased screen use, but the results give 5545 moderate and 1729 difficult-to-control screen-use increases, totaling 7274. The 4125 count appears in Table 1 for increased caloric/salty food intake.

  • Cannabis stress result contradicts the universal-factor claim

    Major

    The abstract says increased stress was associated with increases in every habit at P<.001, whereas Table 3 reports P=.46 for stress and increased cannabis use.

  • Cannabis has significant factors beyond education

    Minor

    The abstract calls education the only significant factor of increased cannabis use. Table 3 also reports a significant association for having no outdoor space (aOR 1.54, P=.048), among other factors.

  • Cannabis no-change percentage uses a different denominator

    Minor

    The stated 263 of 620 cannabis users is 42.42%, not 39.49%. The reported percentage is consistent with the 666-user denominator shown in Tables 2 and 3 instead.

    Reported 39.49 · recomputed 42.419355

  • Weighted rural percentage is incorrect

    Minor

    The table reports 2610 weighted rural respondents as 55.95% of the 11,391 participants; that count is approximately 22.91%.

    Reported 55.95 · recomputed 22.912826

  • Unweighted not-working percentage is incorrect

    Minor

    The reported 4417 participants are 38.78% of 11,391, not 41.33%.

    Reported 41.33 · recomputed 38.776227

  • Weighted periurban percentage is incorrect

    Minor

    The table reports 2409 weighted periurban respondents as 55.95% of the 11,391 participants; that count is approximately 21.15%.

    Reported 55.95 · recomputed 21.148275

  • Food-intake living-space odds ratio is assigned the wrong increment

    Minor

    The abstract assigns an aOR of 1.02 to each one-square-meter/person decrease. Table 3 instead reports an aOR of 0.98 for each five-square-meter/person increase; reversing that five-unit increment gives approximately 1.02 per five-unit decrease, not per one-unit decrease.

  • Current psychiatric treatment has a nonsignificant P value beside a significant food-intake association

    Minor

    Table 3 gives P=.31 for current psychiatric treatment and increased caloric/salty food intake, while its reported 95% CI of 1.62-2.31 excludes the null value of 1. The abstract also identifies it as a factor of increase.

9 of 9

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Authors
Rolland, B., Haesebaert, F., Zante, E., Benyamina, A., Haesebaert, J., & Franck, N.
Affiliations
  • Lyon 1 Université (FR)
  • Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier (FR)
  • Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
  • Hospices Civils de Lyon (FR)
Corresponding author
Rolland, Benjamin
ORCID
Venue
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Publisher
JMIR Publications Inc.
Published
2020-09-18
Volume
6
Issue
3
Pages
e19630
ISSN
2369-2960 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.2196/19630
PMC
PMC7505683
OpenAlex
W3196389154
Cited by
287
References
27
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 75 · 2021: 113 · 2020: 16
FWCI
25.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › COVID-19 Prevention and Impact
Keywords
COVID-19 containment, lockdown, screen use, substance use, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, cannabis use, psychological stress, psychological well-being, psychiatric treatment, social isolation, gender differences, France, mental health during pandemic, partner presence, age and gender, risk factors
MeSH terms
Betacoronavirus, Screen Time, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Diet, Feeding Behavior, Female, France, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Pneumonia, Viral, Health Behavior, Prevalence, Odds Ratio, Behavior, Addictive, Sodium Chloride, Dietary, Coronavirus, Coronavirus Infections, Substance-Related Disorders, Young Adult, Pandemics

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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

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