Evaluation of Food Consumption During Social Distancing Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.

Abstract

Objective: to analyse the eating habits of adults living in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, during social distancing. Methodology: we applied a self-applicable questionnaire with questions based on Vigitel’s questionnaire and others related to stress and eating behavior. The participants received the link to Google forms via social media, they were people between the ages of 20 and 59 years old who were on par with the criteria of inclusion. The exclusion criteria included pregnant women, people who smoke, people who suffer from eating disorders, those in a dietetic or psychiatric treatment, people with a COVID-19 diagnosis and people who were not social distancing. The sample calculation was of 439 participants based on the effect size of 0,10. This value as calculated through a pilot sample with the test power of 80% and confidence interval of 90%, the program GPower 3.1 version was used to perform the sample computation. Results: 382 people answered the questionnaire, 68% of them were female and 32% were male. Around 69% of the participants were between the ages of 20 - 29 years old and 40,4% of them had not graduated from college yet. Women showed an increase of their consumption of sweets, pasta and highly processed foods related to stress. The produce consumption was inferior to the one shown in Vigitel from 2019, but the consumption of highly processed foods has shown an increase. Conclusion: The study concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in the eating habits in the population of Belo Horizonte when compared to the Vigitel 2019 survey. The frequency of consumption of in-natura and least processed foods decreased and the increased consumption of highly processed foods. This one was linked to stress.