This report seeks to understand how diets have changed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the implications that this may have for reducing obesity levels and improving the populations diet. By May 2020 total calories were, on average, 15% above normal levels, and they remained higher than normal for the rest of 2020. Although the pandemic has led to declines in calories consumed from dine-in restaurants, this was more than offset by the increase in calories consumed from grocery stores and takeaway meals.
The majority of households saw an increase in calories, and the report shows that there is a significant socioeconomic gradient in the effect of the pandemic on calories- which can be related to the types of shock experienced by different households- which provides insight into underlying mechanisms and driving behavioural change.