Inequalities in health behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic – a commentary

COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented health toll globally, with mortality, morbidity and other health burden disproportionately affecting those worse off, suggesting systemic structural health inequalities. The focus of the pandemic response has been on health protective behaviours (e.g. update of vaccinations, isolation, and use of face covering). Health behaviours and health behaviour change (such as changes in physical activity, diet and alcohol consumption) have been socio-demographically- patterned already before the COVID-19 pandemic. This commentary article discusses the findings concerning the inequalities in changes health behaviours that happened during and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and which could increase the already present health disparities in the aftermath of the pandemic. These findings suggest that in addition to focusing on behaviours that are aimed at health protection, public health policies and measures deployed during pandemics should continue to include interventions aimed at health promotion and prevention (e.g. physical activity and balanced diet during lockdowns).