LONDON (BLOOMBERG) - New research has put some alarming figures on what has been self-evident to many Britons for months: people ate more during the pandemic.

A study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that people consumed 15 per cent more calories than normal in May 2020, and that remained 10 per cent higher on average during the second half of the year. The research group analysed millions of food and drink purchases from stores, restaurants and takeout providers.

"The huge changes in where people work, eat and socialise over the past year have led to a significant rise in calorie intake," said Kate Smith, IFS associate director and author of the research published Thursday.

"Ninety per cent of households increased their calorie intake, with the largest rises for the wealthiest households."

Calories from takeouts peaked at more than double their pre-pandemic levels during a second lockdown in November as coronavirus infections surged. Those from food purchased at supermarkets and grocery stores were also 10 per cent above normal throughout the pandemic. It meant that consumption at home more than offset the effect of a ban on eating in at restaurants.

Young working-age households in London were among those with the largest increases, likely due to social distancing rules emptying city offices and prompting a major shift to remote work.

The authors nevertheless stressed that the "significant minority" struggled to access food during the pandemic. According to the Trussell Trust, which supports 1,200 food banks in the UK, a record 2.5 million food parcels were given to people in crisis in the year through March, a 33 per cent annual increase.