Changes in Food Consumption in Postmenopausal Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study

Studying the dietary habits and symptoms of postmenopausal women during situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic is important to mitigate long-term post-pandemic health problems. We compared the menopausal symptoms and food consumption in postmenopausal women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Priscilla Rayanne E. Silva Noll, Monique G. Nascimento, Luiza Helena Costa Moreira Bayer, Juliana Zangirolami-Raimundo, José Antonio Orellana Turri, Matias Noll, Edmund Chada Baracat, José Maria Soares Junior, Isabel Cristina Esposito Sorpreso
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-08-01
Series:Nutrients
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/15/3494
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Summary:Studying the dietary habits and symptoms of postmenopausal women during situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic is important to mitigate long-term post-pandemic health problems. We compared the menopausal symptoms and food consumption in postmenopausal women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A longitudinal survey was conducted on postmenopausal Brazilian women between 2018 and 2021. The Kupperman–Blatt Menopausal Index, Women’s Health Questionnaire, and 24 h food recall were used. Of 274 women, 78 (28.5%) participated in the study during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intensity of the symptoms was lower during the pandemic than during the previous period (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Energy and processed food consumption were lower during the pandemic than before (<i>p</i> = 0.003 and <i>p</i> = 0.003, respectively). Milk and plain yogurt consumption were also lower (<i>p</i> = 0.043), while the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and sweet foods was higher (<i>p</i> = 0.007 and <i>p</i> = 0.001, respectively) during the pandemic. There was also a decrease in the consumption of proteins and lipids (<i>p</i> = 0.001 and <i>p</i> = 0.004, respectively). In conclusion, we found that postmenopausal women consumed sweet foods and sugar-sweetened beverages in higher quantities and had a lower consumption of milk and plain yogurt and processed foods during the pandemic than during the pre-pandemic period. Furthermore, decreases in energy and macronutrient consumption were observed.
ISSN:2072-6643