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

• Main Authors: 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
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-05-01
• Series: Frontiers in Nutrition
• Subjects: eating behavior; food processing level; SARS-CoV-2; quarantine; macronutrient intake
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.672372/full

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.