Influence of Body Mass Index on Eating Habits and Food Choice Determinants Among Brazilian Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Changes in emotional state due to the COVID-19 pandemic may potentially modify eating habits, which may differ as a function of body mass index (BMI). Using a self-reported, questionnaire-based survey we evaluated Brazilian women during the pandemic for: (i) the influence of BMI on changes in eating habits, food choice determinants, and psychological symptoms; (ii) associations between eating habits, food choice determinants and psychological symptoms. General characteristics, anthropometric data, eating habits before and during the pandemic, food choice determinants and psychological symptoms during the pandemic were collected between June and September, 2020. Participants (n = 1,183) were normal weight (60.4%), overweight (26.2%) and obese (13.4%). A higher frequency of “cooking” (72.3–77.6%, p = 0.004) and “use of delivery service” (29.8–48.8%, p < 0.001) was reported during, in comparison to before the pandemic. Additionally, a higher prevalence of “snacking” (57.1–63.8%, p = 0.005) and “eating at table” (78.5–82.7%, p < 0.001) was reported during the pandemic, while the number of participants reporting “dieting” decreased (28.7–20.4%, p < 0.001). “Health”, “natural concerns” and “need and hunger” were less important determinants for participants with overweight/obesity compared to normal weight. Regression analysis indicated that (i) “health”, “natural concerns” and “affect regulation”; (ii) “health”, “pleasure”, “convenience”, and “natural concerns”; and (iii) “visual appeal” and “pleasure” were the food choice determinants more associated with eating habits among women with normal weight, overweight, and obesity, respectively. In conclusion, eating habits were modified during the pandemic despite BMI, whereas food choice determinants differed between overweight/obesity and normal weight women.

Comparison of Food-Based and Music-Based Regulatory Strategies for (Un)Healthy Eating, Depression, Anxiety and Stress

“…Regarding the limitations of the present study, future research could be expanded (in addition to the aspects already mentioned) through: (a) including information regarding the type of music listened to (i.e., because people who reported depression listened to negative music, which lowered their mood even more; [ 19 ]); (b) containing information on emotions other than only anxiety and stress (e.g., anger, happiness; [ 15 ]); (c) including in the analysis the age variable (i.e., because although gender was insignificant to the use of music as emotional regulation, age did matter; [ 10 ]) and body mass index (i.e., because BMI may be a factor that differentiates emotional functioning and eating habits; [ 54 , 55 , 56 ]); (d) planning longitudinal studies and/or experimental studies and/or ecological momentary assessment because such research may allow for a better understanding of cause and effect relations, as well as for a better analysis of the dynamic and trajectory of changes in emotional state and eating behaviours; (e) using also objective ways of measuring emotional state [ 57 ] and eating behaviours [ 58 ]. Finally, it should also be added that our results were developed based on data provided by volunteers, which also affects the possibility of generalizing these results.…”

Gendered Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Behaviors in North Africa: Cases of Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia

“…Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic had a more significant impact on female households’ diet diversity than male households [ 33 , 34 ]. It has led to significant disturbances in women’s daily routines that may have an unexpected effect on eating habits [ 35 ]. During the pandemic, women in several countries were less likely to continue shopping as usual [ 36 ].…”

Evaluation of the Food Choice Motives before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study of 1232 Adults from Croatia

“…Studies dealing with food choice motives during the COVID-19 pandemic are still relatively rare. In addition, they tend to analyze other topics such as food planning, shopping, and preparation, diet quality, eating behaviors, the relationship with emotional overeating, body mass index (BMI), and perceived stress [10][11][12][13][14][15], hence food choice motives are addressed only partially and not thoroughly enough.…”