Eating Competence among Brazilian Adults: A Comparison between before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic started a worldwide emergency, and tight preventive actions were necessary to protect the population, changing individuals’ daily habits. Dwelling and working at home can change dietary habits, affect food choice and access, as well as the practice of physical activity. In this regard, this study’s goal was to compare eating competence (EC) among Brazilian adults before and during the coronavirus pandemic, using the Brazilian version of the eating competence Satter inventory (ecSI2.0™BR) with the “retrospective post-then-pre” design. This cross-sectional study was performed from 30 April to 31 May 2021 among a convenience sample of the Brazilian adult population using an online platform (Google® Forms). In the studied sample (n = 302 in which 76.82% were females), EC total score lowered during the pandemic (31.69 ± 8.26 vs. 29.99 ± 9.72; p < 0.005), and the decrease was worst after the beginning of the pandemic among those who reported weight gain, decreased the consumption of fruit and vegetables, and increased the consumption of sugary beverages. The contextual skill component seems relevant in this scenario, where our life and routines were changed entirely, demonstrating that the ability to manage the food context is essential, especially when sanitary and economic situations represent a new challenge.

Everyday discrimination is a stronger predictor of eating competence than food insecurity or perceived stress in college students amidst COVID-19

“…Young adults outside of academia also experience major transitions and stress, and may be at even higher risk of developing food insecurity and poor eating competence due to intergenerational transmission of maladaptive eating behaviors ( Berge, R., Larson, Miller, & Neumark-Sztainer, 2018 ). Although existing literature on eating competence includes various age groups and populations ( Krall & Lohse, 2011 ; Lohse et al, 2012 ; Psota et al, 2007 ; Queiroz et al, 2021 ; Tilles-Tirkkonen et al, 2019 ), none to our knowledge have focused on young, non-student adults. This is another area ripe for future research.…”

Eating Competence, Food Consumption and Health Outcomes: An Overview

“…A cross-sectional study performed in Brazil from 30 April to 31 May 2021 among a convenience sample of the Brazilian adult population (n = 302; 76.82% female) found that the measure of the contextual skills component decreased after the pandemic among those who gained weight (9.56 ± 3.43vs. 7.50 ± 3.95; p < 0.005); those who decreased the consumption of vegetables (9.78 ± 2.79 vs. 6.63 ± 3.40; p < 0.005), and those who increased the consumption of sugary beverages (9.19 ± 3.16 vs. 6.92 ± 3.70; p < 0.005) [66]. Moreover, individuals who used to buy ready-to-eat meals during the pandemic showed a reduction in total EC and all components (p < 0.005).…”

Food spending in the United States during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…The decline in total food spending could likely translate into reduced calorie intake or poor quality food consumption, compounding consumer health risks and food security situations ( 20 , 21 ). Moreover, the pandemic may have changed the attitudinal and behavioral views of consumers about foods, as indicated by lowered eating competence ( 22 ). The individual consumption pattern was also affected by the epidemic ( 23 ).…”