Eating Habits and Sleep Quality during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Adult Population of Ecuador

Abstract

Confinement due to COVID-19 has brought important changes in people’s lives as well as in their eating and resting habits. In this study we aimed at exploring the eating habits and sleep quality of the adult population of Ecuador during the mandatory confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a cross-sectional study, which used an online survey that included questions about eating habits and sleeping habits in adults (n = 9522) between 18–69 years old. The Pittsburg sleep quality questionnaire validated for the Hispanic population was used, and questions about dietary habits. The statistical test Chi-square statistical test was used to analyze the data. The results show that sleep quality differs according to sex, being worse in women, both in all components of sleep quality and in the total score (p < 0.001). Women had greater changes in the habitual consumption of food compared to men (24.24% vs. 22.53%), and people between 18 and 40 years of age decreased their food consumption in relation to people >40 years (24.06% vs. 17.73%). Our results indicate that mandatory confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador has generated changes in the eating habits and sleep quality in the adult population sampled, and these changes are more noticeable in women and young adults. These changes offer an important alert for the health system and further, advice for the implementation of future public health policies.

Nutritional Behavior During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Effect of Fear and Sleep Quality on Emotional Eating

“…Similar to the ndings of our study, a previous study set forth that the mean of PSQI scores was 6.1 ± 3.0 points [9]. There are studies in literature reporting that there was a change in hours of sleep and sleep quality was affected during quarantine [8,41]. Also, in a study conducted in the United Arab Emirates during the pandemic lockdown, it was reported that 60.8% of the participants had sleep disturbances [42].…”

“…The quarantine measures taken in the period of pandemic urged human beings to stay at home and allowed them to communicate with the external world solely through mass communication media such as the internet, TV, radio, and newspapers. In a study performed in Ecuador it was found that mandatory con nement during COVID-19 pandemic caused changes in the eating habits and sleep quality [41]. In this current study, it was reported that the mean of participants' PSQI scores was 6.0 ± 2.3 points and 56.8% of the individuals had low sleep quality.…”

“…There are other studies in literature reporting that emotional eating was more prevalent among the women [21,43] and the individuals with a higher BMI score [44]. It is also stated that in the COVID-19 pandemic, there are greater changes in the habitual food consumption of women compared to men [41]. As a result, it was determined with this study that during the pandemic period, high fear of COVID-19, poor sleep quality, high BMI, young age and being a woman can contribute to emotional eating.…”

Body Composition in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Before and After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Longitudinal Prospective Study in a Rural Village Struck by the Pandemic

“…An overall reduction in physical activity (mostly leisurerelated) together with a lower food intake may explain why body composition determinations did not show significant differences between baseline and follow-up evaluations. Even though their diet changed, individuals did not generally .448 Poor physical activity, n (%) 6 ( 6) 11 (11) .205 8 (5) 21 (12) .012* Poor diet, n (%) 6 ( 6) 15 (15) .038* 16 (9) 37 (21) .002* Blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg, n (%) 47 ( 46 increase their daily caloric intake, especially from fat and carbohydrates, 2 important nutrients that directly affect body composition. These behavior patterns nay differ from other populations where individuals experience changes in body composition determinations due to lockdown restrictions.…”

Sleep Habits during COVID-19 Confinement: An Exploratory Analysis from Portugal

“…In addition, from Italy, a study reports that women and participants with chronic conditions were associated with a higher prevalence of sleep disorders [40]. Ramos-Padilla et al analysed the sleep quality and eating habits of Ecuadorian inhabitants during confinement, and found that sleep quality differs according to gender, being worse in women, both in all sleep components, quality, and total score [41]. There are very interesting studies, for example, based on the Moroccan population, where it was found that false beliefs about the understanding of sleep were prevalent and presented a risk factor for sleep disorders, anxiety, and depressive symptoms [42].…”