Eureka! Institutional Repository

COVID-19 was a challenge both for people individually and collectively as it used the means of house arrest of citizens to limit the spread of the disease. This measure resulted in a reduction in exercise, a change in daily routine and therefore people's eating habits. The Mediterranean diet has been proven to be one of the healthiest and most effective diets and specifically in Greece, regions such as Crete produce local products which play an important role in adherence to the Mediterranean diet and are considered champions in adhering to it. This research studied the adherence to the Mediterranean diet during the restrictions imposed in COVID-19 and how the measures generally affected the daily life of the inhabitants of Crete. For this purpose, a sample of 129 individuals was taken between 10 June 2022 and 15 September 2022 from all over the island of Crete. The result of the survey showed that the participants adhered less to the Mediterranean dietary patterns during the period of the restrictions compared to the period of their removal. In addition, those who followed the Mediterranean diet did not have as much weight change compared to those who did not follow it. Finally, those living in large cities seemed to follow the Mediterranean diet more than those living in the countryside, a result that suggests that there should be education about the standards of the Mediterranean diet in the countryside. The measures taken during the COVID-19 outbreak had a great impact on the daily life of the residents of Crete as well as on their diet, specifically on their adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The present study constitutes an outline of the effects of the restrictive measures for the prevention of COVID-19 on the life style of inhabitants of Crete in particular with regards to the adherence to the Mediterranean diet.