Fenotipo de comportamiento alimentario y emociones como predictores de ganancia de peso durante el confinamiento por COVID-19
Authors:   Grupo de Trabajo Comportamiento Alimentario y Psicología, Sociedad Argentina de Nutrición, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina, Anger Vanesa Érica , Panzitta María Teresa , Kalfaian Laura , Pees Labory Johanna , Genovesi Salomé , Gamberale María Cristina , Mayer Mayer ,   Centro Katz, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina,   Equipo de Desórdenes Alimentarios y Obesidad, Departamento de Salud Mental, Hospital Durand, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina,   Sección Nutrición, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina,   Fundación Centro de Salud e Investigaciones Médicas (CESIM), Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina,   Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Published: April 2021

Introduction: situations characterized by a high emotional load might favor weight gain. Objectives: the aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between eating behavior phenotype, emotions and feelings perception and weight gaining in the context of COVID-19 pandemia. Materials and methods: a transversal, descriptive study was carried out by means of an online survey on adults participants, residents in Argentina. The evaluation consisted of demographic and anthropometric data, physical activity level, sleep habits and eating behavior phenotype. The increase in the perception of different emotions and feeling during the confinement was evaluated. Results: 2,619 participants (84.9 females, mean age 39.27±15.21 year old). 40.3% of the subjects reported having gained weight during the confinement. 77.3% of the subjects showed some sort of sleep disturbance. The main feelings and emotions that were reported to have increased were anxiety (50.7%), demotivation (45.1%) and sadness (38.9%). Logistic regression model evidenced that the diminishment in physical activity during the confinement, as well as basal body mass index were associated to weight gain. The hedonic eater eating behavior phenotype predicted weight gain (B=0,408).The increase in the perception of boring (B=0,255), demotivation (B=0,244) and anxiety (B=0,409) during the confinement was also associated to weigh gain during this period, meanwhile those who experienced an increase in the feeling of strength presented a lower risk (B=-0,536). Introduction: situations characterized by a high emotional load might favor weight gain. Objectives: the aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between eating behavior phenotype, emotions and feelings perception and weight gaining in the context of COVID-19 pandemia. Materials and methods: a transversal, descriptive study was carried out by means of an online survey on adults participants, residents in Argentina. The evaluation consisted of demographic and anthropometric data, physical activity level, sleep habits and eating behavior phenotype. The increase in the perception of different emotions and feeling during the confinement was evaluated. Results: 2,619 participants (84.9 females, mean age 39.27±15.21 year old). 40.3% of the subjects reported having gained weight during the confinement. 77.3% of the subjects showed some sort of sleep disturbance. The main feelings and emotions that were reported to have increased were anxiety (50.7%), demotivation (45.1%) and sadness (38.9%). Logistic regression model evidenced that the diminishment in physical activity during the confinement, as well as basal body mass index were associated to weight gain. The hedonic eater eating behavior phenotype predicted weight gain (B=0,408).The increase in the perception of boring (B=0,255), demotivation (B=0,244) and anxiety (B=0,409) during the confinement was also associated to weigh gain during this period, meanwhile those who experienced an increase in the feeling of strength presented a lower risk (B=-0,536). Conclusions: the hedonic eater eating behavior phenotype and the perception of negative emotions were associated to weight gaining in the context of the confinement. This remarks the importance of the addressing emotional aspects and identifying individual eating behavior phenotypes in order to promote adequate preventive strategies. Key words: COVID-19; obesity; hedonic eater, eating behavior phenotypes.