Stress levels, eating habits, and body weight of adults in Higher Education Institutions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15343/0104-7809.202549e17412025IKeywords:
Ultra-processed Foods, Social Isolation, Anxiety, Body Weight ChangesAbstract
To analyze the prevalence of perceived stress during the period of social isolation imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to sociodemographic characteristics, food consumption, and other health-related behaviors, among adult workers and students from Higher Education Institutions in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2020 with 524 individuals. Participants completed an online questionnaire on perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), in addition to reporting the weekly frequency of consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods. Adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Poisson regression. The highest level of perceived stress reached 31.1% of the sample and was even higher among individuals with lower household income (≤ 3 minimum wages, PR=2.14; 95% CI: 1.22–3.73), those who consumed fried foods (PR=1.80; 95% CI: 1.15–2.82), those who consumed sweets ≥ 2 days per week (PR=1.69; 95% CI: 1.11–2.56), those who reported increased alcohol consumption (PR=1.76; 95% CI: 1.15–2.68), and those who reported body weight reduction (PR=2.62; 95% CI: 1.25–5.51) during the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings of this study show that more than one-third of students and education professionals exhibited high levels of stress, along with greater consumption of foods with low nutritional quality, increased alcohol use, and weight loss during Covid-19-related isolation.
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