Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39796617›Full record

ArticleNutrients2025

Dietary Disruptors in Romania: Seasonality, Traditions, and the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Adrian Pană, Ștefan Strilciuc, Bogdan-Vasile Ileanu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. When Routines Break: The Health Implications of Disrupted Daily Life.American journal of lifestyle medicine · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Adrian PanăCenter for Health Outcomes & Evaluation, Splaiul Unirii 45, 030126 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-6358-1098
Ștefan StrilciucDepartment of Genomics, MEDFUTURE Institute for Biomedical Research, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-6112-0223
Bogdan-Vasile IleanuCenter for Health Outcomes & Evaluation, Splaiul Unirii 45, 030126 Bucharest, Romania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe global rise in obesity has been significantly influenced by shifts in dietary habits that have been exacerbated by external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to analyze the trends in Romanian dietary habits from 2015 to 2023, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of socio-economic factors, seasonality, and cultural practices.

methodsFor dietary habits, we used nationally representative data from the Romanian Household Budget Survey provided by the Romanian National Institute of Statistics. The survey includes 30,000 households annually. From the same provider, we downloaded data about potential drivers of food consumption, such as income, the consumer price index, and the unemployment rate. The analysis mixes descriptive statistics and panel data analysis. Among the main drivers, the econometric models include seasonality and regional factors, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the changes in dietary behavior.

resultsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, daily calorie consumption increased to over 3000 calories per person, representing a 20% increase compared to the pre-pandemic period. Post-pandemic, food consumption remains elevated, averaging 2500-2600 calories per person daily. The pandemic also led to a shift in dietary composition, with significant changes. Thus, we mark an increase in fat (

conclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on Romanian dietary habits, reinforcing unhealthy eating patterns that were already prevalent. The sustained increase in calorie consumption, particularly of nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods, poses a significant public health challenge. The study also highlights significant seasonal variations, with a marked increase in food intake during the last quarter of the year, driven by cultural and religious traditions. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions and policies that address economic factors and cultural and regional influences to promote healthier dietary behaviors in Romania.

Indexed as

COVID-19DietFeeding BehaviorSeasonsCultureEnergy IntakeHumansObesityPandemicsRomaniaSARS-CoV-2Socioeconomic FactorsCOVID-19dietary habitsenergy intakefood choiceobesityRomania

Identifiers

PMID39796617
PMCPMC11723317

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.