Anxiety, anhedonia and food consumption during the COVID-19 quarantine in Chile

Abstract

The current epidemic of COVID-19 has gained attention and highlighted the need for a better understanding of the population's mental health. Diet has been identified as an environmental determinant of mental health. In this regard, it has been suggested that the consumption of palatable foods represents a strategy to mitigate negative emotions, such as anxiety. This study aimed to evaluate the association between symptoms of anxiety and/or anhedonia to food consumption patterns during the period of COVID-19 quarantine in Chile. We conducted a cross-sectional study with non-randomized sampling via an online survey. A total of 1725 responses were collected. Each person self-answered the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale for anhedonia, the Food Intake Questionnaire, and questions regarding type and duration of lockdown, as well as body weight and food serving variation. Significant correlations were observed between fried food consumption and self-reported body weight. The subjects who consumed fried food three times a week, had higher weight (63.5%) (χ 2 = 48.5 and p < 0.001). Those who ate one and two or more pastries on a week had 1.41 and 1.49, respectively higher odds of reporting increased body weight. We found a relationship anxiety level and sugar-sweetened beverages level (χ 2 = 25.5; p 0.013), fast food intake (χ 2 = 63.4; p < 0.001), and pastry consumption (χ 2 = 37.7; p < 0.001). In conclusion, it is important to monitor the evolution of these findings since they could represent a risk of increased health problems in the future post-lockdown period.

Generalized anxiety disorder during COVID-19 in Canada: Gender-specific association of COVID-19 misinformation exposure, precarious employment, and health behavior change

“…The present study also found a linkage between increased junk food consumption and anxiety amid COVID-19 outbreak in Canada for both men and women. This was consistent with recent dietary research in Chile, which documented the pattern of anxiety levels associated with sugar-sweetened beverages, fast food, and pastry consumption during the pandemic ( Landaeta-Díaz et al., 2021 ). Our findings corroborate existing work on social isolation's effect on anxiety ( Boehlen et al., 2020 ; Wu et al., 2021 ) and illustrate that women whose social circles were only within the household in the past seven days were at greater risk of experiencing anxiety in COVID-19 times.…”

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on food habits and perceptions: A study with Brazilians

“…This can be linked to the greater consumption of candy noted mainly by women, which helps with wellness sensation. In Chile, a study indicated anxiety relationships associated with increased consumption of foods that lead to weight gain during the pandemic period, such as sweets, fried foods, soft drinks, and fast food ( Landaeta-Díaz et al, 2021 ). Tribst et al (2021) also noted that factors such as time, skills, habits, feelings and beliefs are associated with diet changes during the COVID-19 pandemic period in Brazilian adults.…”

Factors associated with the weight change trend in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: the case of Turkey

“…At the same time, some studies have shown several negative psychological effects of work routine interruption and social isolation, such as higher levels of anxiety, boredom, fear, stress, and depressive symptoms [ 14 15 16 ]. The quarantine aroused mood changes like anxiety and boredom, which are considered as major reasons for poor quality food consumption when compared to standard living conditions [ 17 18 ]. In order to cope with anxiety and boredom-related stress, people show a tendency to overeat “comfort foods” that are rich in fats, sugars, and thus calories, causing serotonin production and stress reduction [ 19 20 ].…”