Factors associated with stress and eating behavior in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: The confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic generated changes associated with daily living including food consumption, decreased physical activity and the presence of stress due to the fear of contracting the disease.

Objective: To determine the factors associated with stress and eating behavior in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of young adults aged 18-30. The information was collected through an online form developed in Google Forms. The FANTASTICO validated questionnaire was used to determine the factors associated with stress and the questionnaire of frequency of food consumption to identify eating behavior.

Results: A total of 315 adults (n=105 males and n=210 females) were surveyed with a mean age of 23.2 ± 3.1 years. Investigated participants reported that they could not: sleep well (73.0%), manage stress (78.1%), enjoy their free time (38.1%); in addition to feeling not satisfied at work (53.3%); feeling depressed (83.2%) and feeling angry (87.9%). Regarding eating behavior, overall, participants reported a consumption of 2 to 4 times/week (less than the recommended) of vegetables in 39.7%, fruits in 43.5%, cereals and derivatives in 47.9%, red meat in 54.0%, white meat in 62.9%, fast foods 52.4%, processed foods in 70.5% and snacks in 67.6%. Statistically significant differences were observed related to sex (females) regarding stress management, enjoying free time, feeling angry and the consumption of fast foods.

Conclusions: The present study found that due to the COVID-19 pandemic there were sex-related differences in terms of factors associated to stress and eating behavior.