Did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the dietary intake of individuals living with and beyond breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer and who was most likely to experience change?

Purpose: The present work investigated dietary changes among individuals living with and beyond cancer (LWBC) from before to during the pandemic. To identify those at greatest risk of unhealthy changes, it was further examined whether patterns varied with sociodemographic, health-related, and COVID-19-related characteristics. Methods This longitudinal cohort study analysed data from 716 individuals LWBC participating in the Advancing Survivorship Cancer Outcomes Trial (ASCOT). Using data provided before and during the pandemic, changes in fruit and vegetable, snack, and alcohol intake were tested using mixed-effect regression models. Results Fruit and vegetable (95%CI:-0.30;-0.04), and alcohol consumption (95%CI:-1.25;-0.31) decreased, whilst snacking increased (95%CI:0.19;0.53). Women and individuals with limited social contact were more likely to reduce fruit and vegetable intake during the pandemic. Women and individuals with poorer sleep quality, limited social contact, shielding requirements, and without higher education were more likely to increase snacking during the pandemic. Individuals with poorer sleep quality, greater anxiety and depression levels, and regular social contact were more likely to decrease alcohol consumption during the pandemic. Conclusions Findings suggest unhealthy dietary changes for fruit, vegetable, and snack intake but healthy changes for alcohol consumption in response to the pandemic. These changes appear to differ across various characteristics, suggesting the pandemic has not equally impacted everyone. Findings highlight the need for targeted post-COVID strategies to support individuals LWBC most adversely affected by the pandemic, including women and socially isolated individuals. This encourages resources to be prioritised amongst these at-risk groups to prevent further negative impact of the pandemic.