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

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.

Protein provision and lower mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) severely impacted the management of critically ill patients, including nutritional therapy. This study aimed to verify an association between mortality and the energy and protein provided to critically ill patients affected by the SARS-CoV-2 and receiving enteral nutrition support. METHODS: Patients with confirmed COVID-19, with >7 days of stay in the ICU, on enteral nutrition were followed from the moment of hospitalization until discharge from the ICU or death. Data about age, gender, Simplified Acute Physiology Score III (SAPS3), intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, days on mechanical ventilation (MV), clinical endpoint outcome (discharge or death), and daily energy and protein provision were collected from electronic medical records. Cox regression analyses and Kaplan-Meyer curves were used in statistical analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients (66.2 ± 13.1 years; 53.8% women) were enrolled in the present study. The mean length of hospitalizations and SAPS3 score were 17.8 ± 9.8 days and 78.7 ± 14.7, respectively; all patients needed mechanical ventilation (mean of days was 16.42 ± 9.1). For most patients (73.1%) the endpoint was death. Twenty-five percent of patients had protein supply >0.8 g/IBW/day. Survival during COVID-19 hospitalization at ICU was significantly different among patients according to protein supply (p = 0.005). Hazard Ratios (HR) for protein supply showed that a protein intake >0.8 g/IBW/day was associated with significantly lower mortality (HR 0.322, p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that a protein supply at least > 0.8 g/IBW/day could be related to reduced mortality in ICU patients with COVID-19.

Poor Eating Habits and Selected Determinants of Food Choice Were Associated With Ultraprocessed Food Consumption in Brazilian Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations between food consumption and eating habits and food choice determinants in women during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey conducted in Brazil between June and September, 2020, during which time social distancing measures were in place. Results: Participants (n = 629) were aged 34.0 years and mostly within normal weight according to BMI (60.4%). "Snacking" and "liking" associated with increased energy (ß = 164.27 and ß = 110.24) and carbohydrate intake (ß = 1.97 and ß = 1.80), and with reduced protein intake (ß = -1.54 and ß = -1.18). In contrast, "dieting" and "weight control" associated with reduced energy (ß = -162.57 and ß = -111.49) and carbohydrate intake (ß = -2.78 and ß = -2.07), and with increased protein intake (ß = 3.78 and ß = 1.65). "Dieting" (ß = 7.27), "need and hunger" (ß = 3.34), and "health" (ß = 4.94) associated with an increased consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods, whereas "replacing main meals with snacks" (ß = -8.98), "snacking" (ß = -6.92) and binge eating symptoms (ß = -0.34) associated with reduced consumption of foods within this processing level. In contrast, "use of delivery services" (ß = 3.39), "replacing main meals with snacks" (ß = 5.49), "visual appeal" (ß = 2.17), "social norms" (ß = 2.19) and "affect regulation" (ß = 2.01) associated with increased ultraprocessed food consumption. Overall, associations were more frequent and pronounced when analyzing food consumption by processing level rather than by macronutrient intake. Conclusion: Some eating habits and food choice determinants ("snacking," "replacing meals with snacks," "use of delivery services") observed during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with an unhealthy diet (high energy and carbohydrate consumption, increased ultraprocessed food consumption and reduced unprocessed/minimally processed foods consumption) in Brazilian women.

Nutritional Inadequacies Among Post-bariatric Patients During COVID-19 Quarantine in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Post bariatric control of food intake is influenced by psychological and behavioral factors. We investigated dietary habits and food intake during COVID-19 quarantine among recently operated patients. Patients were assessed for total and per meal energy and macronutrient intake as well as frequency of food consumption per processing level. Patients were also classified according to adherence to nutritional recommendations from our outpatient clinic. Main results are indicative of inappropriate nutritional intake during COVID-19 quarantine in postoperative bariatric patients. We observed that many patients failed to meet the recommended protein intake (89.2%) along a relatively high intake of ultra-processed foods (~1/4 of the diet). Our data suggest the need for the implementation of strategies to extend nutritional care to at-risk patients during social distancing.