Associations of sedentary behaviours and incidence of unhealthy diet during the COVID-19 quarantine in Brazil

Author(s)

Werneck, Andre O. ^[1] ; Silva, Danilo R. ^[2] ; Malta, Deborah C. ^[3] ; Gomes, Crizian Saar ^[3] ; Souza-Junior, Paulo R. B. ^[4] ; Azevedo, Luiz O. ^[4] ; Barros, Marilisa B. A. ^[5] ; Szwarcwald, Celia L. ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Nutr, Av Dr Arnaldo, 715 Cerqueira Cesar, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Sergipe UFS, Dept Phys Educ, Sao Cristovao - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Escola Enfermagem, Programa Posgrad Saude Publ, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

^[4] Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ, Inst Comunicacao & Informacao Cient & Tecnol Saud, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

^[5] Univ Estadual Campinas, Sch Med Sci, Dept Publ Hlth, Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION; v. 24, n. 3, p. 422-426, FEB 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to analyse the association of change patterns on TV-viewing and computer/tablet use and incidence of elevated consumption of ultra-processed food consumption and lower consumption of fruits and vegetables during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Data of 39 208 Brazilian adults from a Behaviour Web Survey were used. Unhealthy nutrition habits were eating fruits or vegetables for <5 d/week and ultra-processed food (sugary foods, snacks, ready-to-eat frozen foods and embedded foods) for >= 5 d/week. For incidence indicators, we only considered participants without unhealthy behaviour before the quarantine. We created four categories of change in TV-viewing and computer/tablet use, considering a cut-off point of 4 h/d for each behaviour (1 - consistently low, 2 - become low during the quarantine, 3 - become high during the quarantine or 4 - consistently high). Analyses were adjusted for sex, age group, highest academic achievement, per capita income, working status during the quarantine, skin colour and adherence to the quarantine. Setting: Brazil. Participants: Brazilian adults (nationally representative). Results: Logistic regression models revealed that high TV-viewing and computer/tablet use incidence were associated with higher odds for elevated frequency of ultra-processed food consumption (TV-viewing: OR 1 center dot 70; 95 % CI 1 center dot 37, 2 center dot 12; computer/tablet: OR 1 center dot 73; 95 % CI 1 center dot 31, 2 center dot 27) and low consumption of fruit and vegetables (TV-viewing: OR 1 center dot 70; 95 % CI 1 center dot 29, 2 center dot 23; computer/tablet: OR 1 center dot 53; 95 % CI 1 center dot 08, 2 center dot 17) incidence. Consistent high computer/tablet use also presented higher odds for incidence of elevated frequency of ultra-processed food consumption. Conclusions: Participants with incidence of sedentary behaviours were also more likely to present incidence of unhealthy diet during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/24124-7 - Prospective association of ultra-processed food consumption and physical inactivity in the prediction of depressive symptoms among adults
• Grantee: André de Oliveira Werneck
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate