IMPACTO DA PANDEMIA (COVID-19) NO COMPORTAMENTO ALIMENTAR E ROTINA DE ATIVIDADE FÍSICA, NO BRASIL: UM INQUÉRITO BASEADO NA INTERNET.

Reduced mobility and interpersonal contacts were recommended to the entire population for the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to measure the main effects of this social restriction in terms of eating habits, physical activity, and weight change, of Brazilians. This is a cross-sectional study, based on data collected from an Internet survey. The prevalence of changes in food intake and physical activity was represented. Dietary patterns were revealed using hierarchical cluster analysis. The factors associated with the variation in body weight were explored using a generalized linear model. 2,907 participants were evaluated, 75% of whom were female, and the mean age (sd) was 42 (14) years. As for body weight compared to before the pandemic, 11% of eutrophic people became overweight; and 23% of those who were already overweight, progressed to obesity. As for the practice of physical activity, 40% of those who were active, became sedentary. The foods with the greatest increase in consumption were bread (40%), sweets (39%), chocolate (30%) and wine (27%). Body weight gain was associated with a higher age group, physical inactivity, low-intensity physical activities, less education, adherence to Western standard diets, and simple carbohydrates (p≤0.01). Factors related to lifestyle changes in the pandemic have been reported, such as: anxiety, fear, stress, depression, malaise, change in family and work routine, difficulty sleeping, physical inactivity, binge eating, insecurity, increased work and change in mood. The results point to changes in lifestyle resulting from social restriction that imply health risk: weight gain, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and high energy density diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]