Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the eating behavior and nutritional status of university students
Name: CAROLINE RODRIGUES SOUTO
Publication date: 15/12/2023
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| FABIOLA LACERDA PIRES SOARES | Advisor |
Summary: University students are in a time of
transition, which can influence their eating behavior. Along with this, the
recent situation of the COVID-19 pandemic stands out as a factor with the
potential to change social and eating habits. The aim of this study was to
assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the eating behavior and
nutritional status of students at the Federal University of Espírito Santo
(UFES) and the associated factors in the first year and third year of the
pandemic in Brazil. All students regularly enrolled in face-to-face
undergraduate courses at UFES were invited to participate. The first stage
was carried out in the first year of the pandemic, between May and June 2020;
the second took place in March 2022, in the third year of the pandemic. The
data was collected using an online semi-structured questionnaire with
self-reported information. Intuitive eating was assessed using the "Intuitive
Eating Scale - 2". To quantify the participation of the independent variables
in the outcome (nutritional status), a binary logistic regression of the two
stages was carried out. 251 university students took part, with a median age
of 22 years. There was a significant increase in body weight, BMI and
intuitive eating between the two periods. In the first year of the pandemic,
being female reduced the chances of being overweight or obese in the study
population by 73.5%, as did using tobacco (91.8% reduction). Living in a
marital relationship increased these odds by 21.2 times, and this increase
was also observed in individuals who were concerned about weight gain (6
times) and body dissatisfaction (5 times). In the third year, the practice of
restrictive diets and inadequate body perception more than doubled the
chances of being overweight or obese. Concern about weight gain and living in
a marital relationship increased these odds by 4 and 9 times, respectively.
Being female reduced the odds of overweight or obesity by 76.2%, and
congruence in body-food choices (intuitive eating subscale) by 43.3% in this
period. In conclusion, sociodemographic, lifestyle and behavioral variables
had both a positive and negative influence on nutritional status during the
pandemic. Intuitive eating was shown to be a protective factor during this
period, reducing the chances of being overweight in this population.
