*2.2. Measures*

Demographic information such as the participant's age (see above), gender (male; female; other), community size, education, and their current occupation were assessed. Then, validated instruments and self-generated scales assessed psychological states and psychological reactions to COVID-19. Weight and height were also assessed. Mental burdens during the previous two weeks were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-8, measuring depression symptoms with two items on a four-point Likert Scale [28,29]) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7, measuring generalized anxiety using seven items on a four-point Likert Scale [30,31]). To measure specific COVID-19-related fear, one single seven-point Likert-scaled item was used (for further information see [32]). Additionally, participants were asked about changes in their general eating behavior since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. In 10 self-generated items, participants indicated whether they observed themselves eating more or less, shopping for more groceries, eating more fast food, and eating larger portions on a seven-point Likert Scale (see Supplementary Material for specific wording and factorial analyses). These items were then summarized in one scale indicating dysfunctional COVID-19-specific eating behavior (DCSEB).
