Nutritionists and dieticians concerned about national obesity levels are urging people in quarantine to avoid "pattern grazing" and mindlessly eating as a coping response to stress and boredom.

Key points: A clinical psychologist said people were mindlessly eating as a coping mechanism

A clinical psychologist said people were mindlessly eating as a coping mechanism A dietician said Australia's obesity problem could get worse as a result of quarantine

A dietician said Australia's obesity problem could get worse as a result of quarantine Some people are also losing their appetite as a severe response to stress and depression

As boredom grips the nation, people are turning to their fridges and pantries to pass the time, but food experts say we should instead be practising good "meal hygiene".

"When the days become long and repetitive, then we might turn to food," clinical psychologist Christopher Basten said.

Dr Basten said comfort eating was a subconscious response to the negative emotions associated with stress and boredom.

He said people would enter a "grazing pattern" and mindlessly eat throughout the day as a coping mechanism.

"They might have three afternoon teas instead of one and that's becoming increasingly common for a whole lot of people," Dr Basten said.

He recommended people "plate up and sit down" to enjoy their food.

Instead of eating in front of a television or computer screen, they should structure meals by scheduling video calls with a friend.

He also urged people to plan ahead, especially when baking.

"If you've got eight serves of something, it's a bit too tempting to eat it all and we lose our meal hygiene too."

Dieticians are increasingly worried about how quarantine cooking will affect obesity levels — the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports two-thirds of Australian adults are overweight or obese.

"We're right up there in the top five countries in the world in terms of the obesity statistics," said Jane Freeman of the Dieticians Association of Australia.

"It's an important time for all of us to guard our health, boost it, eat well, move as much as we can, get up for those works."

She recommended having different colours and textures on our plates and acknowledging when we're full while digging into our meals.

"It is really important for us to not use COVID-19 as an excuse to not eat well or to not keep fit," Ms Freeman said.

Dr Basten said overeating wasn't the only way people were neglecting their health.

A lack of motivation and access to gyms, he said, could lead to a "vicious circle of not pursuing healthy options".

He also raised an issue of some of his clients losing their appetite as a severe response to stress and depression.

Ultimately, however, he said the increase in home cooking was a positive with many people learning portion control and gaining a sense of achievement and creativity.