Poor Eating Habits and Selected Determinants of Food Choice Were Associated With Ultraprocessed Food Consumption in Brazilian Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Fabiana Infante Smaira; Bruna Caruso Mazzolani; Gabriel Perri Esteves; Heloisa C Santo André; Milla Cordeiro Amarante; Daniela Fernandes Castanho; Karen Jennifer de Campos; Fabiana Braga Benatti; Ana Jéssica Pinto; Hamilton Roschel; Bruno Gualano; Carolina Ferreira Nicoletti

doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.672372

Poor Eating Habits and Selected Determinants of Food Choice Were Associated With Ultraprocessed Food Consumption in Brazilian Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Front Nutr. 2021 May 13:8:672372. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.672372. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Fabiana Infante Smaira^{1

2}, Bruna Caruso Mazzolani^{1

2}, Gabriel Perri Esteves^{1

2}, Heloisa C Santo André³, Milla Cordeiro Amarante^{1

2}, Daniela Fernandes Castanho^{1

2}, Karen Jennifer de Campos^{1

2}, Fabiana Braga Benatti^{1

2

3}, Ana Jéssica Pinto^{1

2}, Hamilton Roschel^{1

2}, Bruno Gualano^{1

2

4}, Carolina Ferreira Nicoletti^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Applied Physiology & Nutrition Research Group, Rheumatology Division, School of Physical Education and Sport, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Laboratory of Assessment and Conditioning in Rhematology, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Disciplina de Reumatologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ School of Applied Sciences, State University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil.
⁴ Food Research Center, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations between food consumption and eating habits and food choice determinants in women during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey conducted in Brazil between June and September, 2020, during which time social distancing measures were in place. Results: Participants (n = 629) were aged 34.0 years and mostly within normal weight according to BMI (60.4%). "Snacking" and "liking" associated with increased energy (β = 164.27 and β = 110.24) and carbohydrate intake (β = 1.97 and β = 1.80), and with reduced protein intake (β = -1.54 and β = -1.18). In contrast, "dieting" and "weight control" associated with reduced energy (β = -162.57 and β = -111.49) and carbohydrate intake (β = -2.78 and β = -2.07), and with increased protein intake (β = 3.78 and β = 1.65). "Dieting" (β = 7.27), "need and hunger" (β = 3.34), and "health" (β = 4.94) associated with an increased consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods, whereas "replacing main meals with snacks" (β = -8.98), "snacking" (β = -6.92) and binge eating symptoms (β = -0.34) associated with reduced consumption of foods within this processing level. In contrast, "use of delivery services" (β = 3.39), "replacing main meals with snacks" (β = 5.49), "visual appeal" (β = 2.17), "social norms" (β = 2.19) and "affect regulation" (β = 2.01) associated with increased ultraprocessed food consumption. Overall, associations were more frequent and pronounced when analyzing food consumption by processing level rather than by macronutrient intake. Conclusion: Some eating habits and food choice determinants ("snacking," "replacing meals with snacks," "use of delivery services") observed during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with an unhealthy diet (high energy and carbohydrate consumption, increased ultraprocessed food consumption and reduced unprocessed/minimally processed foods consumption) in Brazilian women.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; eating behavior; food processing level; macronutrient intake; quarantine.