Associations of sedentary behaviours and incidence of unhealthy diet during the COVID-19 quarantine in Brazil

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to analyze the association of change patterns on TV-viewing and computer/tablet use and incidence of elevated consumption of ultra-processed food consumption and lower consumption of fruits and vegetables during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Data of 39,208 Brazilian adults from the Behavior Web Survey were used. Unhealthy nutrition habits were eating fruits or vegetables (< 5 day/week) and ultra-processed food (sugary foods, snacks, ready-to-eat frozen foods and embedded foods) (≥5 days/week). For incidence indicators, we only considered participants without the unhealthy behavior before the quarantine. We created four categories of change in TV-viewing and computer/tablet use, considering a cut-off point of 4h/d for each behavior (1-consistently low, 2-become low during the quarantine, 3-become high during the quarantine or 4-consistently high). Analyses were adjusted for sex, age group, highest academic achievement, per capita income, working status during the quarantine, skin color and adherence to the quarantine. Setting: Brazil Participants: Brazilian adults (nationally representative). Results: Logistic regression models revealed that high TV-viewing and computer/tablet use incidence were associated with higher odds for elevated frequency of ultra-processed food consumption (TV-viewing: OR: 1.70; 95%CI: 1.37 to 2.12; computer/tablet: 1.73; 1.31 to 2.27) and low consumption of fruit and vegetables (TV-viewing: 1.70; 1.29 to 2.23; computer/tablet: 1.53; 1.08 to 2.17) incidence. Consistent high computer/tablet use also presented higher odds for incidence of elevated frequency of ultra-processed food consumption. Conclusions: Participants with incidence of sedentary behaviors were more likely to also present incidence of unhealthy diet during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine.

Impact of COVID-19 on child malnutrition, obesity in women and household food insecurity in underserved urban settlements in Sri Lanka: a prospective follow-up study

“…Furthermore, increased screen time that is also associated with increase in snacking, especially most available convenient food like sugary biscuits may be another contributory factor for the increase in overweight. Consistent findings have been reported in other countries (23,24) . However, a change in obesity was not observed in women during the past year.…”

Adherence to the Gluten-Free Diet during the Lockdown for COVID-19 Pandemic: A Web-Based Survey of Italian Subjects with Celiac Disease

“…Some studies reported a negative worldwide impact on dietary habits by restrictive measures, promoting unhealthy behaviors in both children and adults [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Along with the increase in sedentary behaviors, higher odds for elevated frequency of ultraprocessed food consumption (sugary foods, snacks, ready-to-eat frozen foods, and embedded foods) and low consumption of fruit and vegetables were reported [ 6 ], resulting in a decrease in nutritional quality of diet on average [ 7 ]. However, it has also been reported that the intake of fast food and commercial pastries decreased, while consumption of homemade pastries increased, testifying a significant increase of the cooked-at-home preparations [ 8 , 11 ].…”

“…CD has the peculiarity of merely dietetic treatment, which could be impacted in different ways by the restrictive measures, possibly implying difficulties in the supply of gluten-free products [ 3 ] or avoiding eating out, known to be an occasion of potential contamination or transgression to the GFD [ 4 , 5 ]. Previous findings on the impact of the lockdown on dietary habits in the general population are controversial, with some studies reporting a decrease in nutritional quality of diet on average worldwide [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], while a recent survey showed an increased healthy eating during the pandemic, thanks to less eating out and increased cooking [ 13 ]. Therefore, we aimed to assess the impact of the restrictive measures on the adherence of Italian CD subjects to the gluten-free diet (GFD) and on the management of the disease during the lockdown, by a web-based survey.…”

Associations of Sociodemographic Factors and Health Behaviors with the Emotional Well-Being of Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil

“…As well as the socioeconomic impact, facing social isolation is a challenging experience. Separation from loved ones, loss of freedom, uncertainty about the disease, and changes in routine activities have all led to distress, anxiety, and depression, and have generated psychological problems [6][7][8][9][10] and the adoption of unhealthy behaviors [11][12][13] in several countries.…”