Dietary Patterns and Dietary Recommendations Achievement From Latin American College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

This study aimed to compare the diet quality of different dietary patterns among college students from Latin American countries, including vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional, observational, multicenter study was conducted including a non- probabilistic sample of university students from 10 countries. University students were invited to participate in the study through social network platforms. Participants were self-reported to have followed a specific dietary pattern; either the Prudent diet, Western diet, Ovo-dairy-vegetarian diet, Fish-vegetarian diet, Strict vegetarian diet (vegan) or other. The last three patterns (vegetarians and vegans) were grouped as following a plant-based diet. A self-assessment survey was used to evaluate healthy eating habits using a questionnaire with values between 1 (do not consume) and 5 (consume) for a total of 9–45 points (higher values represent better eating habits). Unhealthy habits were assessed with nine questions. A total of 4,809 students filled out the questionnaire, and the majority of them were females (73.7%). Murillo et al. College Dietary Patterns During COVID-19 A high percentage have been in lockdown for more than 5 months and were in lockdown when the survey was released. 74.3% were self-reported to follow a prudent diet, while 11.4% reported following a western dietary pattern and 8.8% a plant-based diet. When compliance with healthy and unhealthy dietary habits was analyzed, although all groups had low compliance, the plant-based diet group (56.09 ± 6.11) performed better than the Western diet group (48.03 ± 5.99). The total diet quality score was significantly higher for plant-based diet followers, who also tended to better achieve the recommendations than omnivorous students, especially the ones following a western diet. These results present evidence that young adults such as college-aged students have unhealthy dietary habits. However, the ones who follow a plant-based diet such as vegetarians and vegans exhibit better scores and healthier dietary conducts.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Medicina::Escuela de Medicin

Consumption of fruit in street posts from eleven iberoamerican countries. Multicentric study

ARTÍCULO PUBLICADO EN REVISTA EXTERNA. La ingesta de comida en la calle es una práctica muy común en personas que trabajan. Hay una gran oferta de comida callejera; Las frutas son siempre parte de esta oferta y se pueden encontrar en diferentes presentaciones. Objetivo: Analizar la frecuencia del consumo de fruta en las vías públicas de América Latina. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal utilizando un cuestionario de 15 preguntas en formato Google Docs, que fue validado por el método Delphi y aplicado en 11 países: Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Portugal y Uruguay. Resultados: Se encuestó a 8885 personas, más del 50% consume alimentos en la vía pública. Entre los países más consumidores, se destacan Colombia (78%) y Guatemala (76%), seguido de Perú (66%). Con respecto al consumo de fruta en la vía pública, se observa que existe un mayor consumo en Portugal (61%), seguido de Colombia (55%) y Guatemala (51%), y los países con menor consumo son Argentina (26%) y Uruguay (20%). El consumo de fruta en la calle es el mismo en ambos sexos en la mayoría de los países. Por otro lado, en Portugal, Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica y Chile, el mayor consumo corresponde a personas con educación superior (universitaria o de posgrado) (p <0,05). Conclusiones: El consumo de alimentos en la calle es alto en todos los países, incluido el consumo de frutas. Esto puede transformarse en una oportunidad para alentar su consumo, pero los puestos de la calle deben ajustarse a los requisitos necesarios para ofrecer alimentos seguros. Sitio de la revista: https://revista.nutricion.org/index.php/ncdh/article/view/3

Caracterización del consumo de comida callejera según edad, estudio multicéntrico

ABSTRACT: The consumption of street food has become widespread in many countries, however, the reasons for consumption and perceptions by consumers about the hygiene of such food are unknown. Objective: To describe the consumption, the reasons for consumption and the perceptions of consumers about street food according to age group. Material and Methods: A survey of 15 questions was developed in Google Docs, adapted to each country, translated into Spanish or Portuguese and applied to 8895 people in 11 countries of Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal and Uruguay). Results: 53.6% of respondents indicate that they consume street food, the highest consumption (63.6%) occurs in the group of younger age (18-30 years), and decreases as age increases. The perception linked to dirtiness of food increases as age increases. On the other hand, as age increases, foods are preferred because they are tasty and they are available, in contrast to younger ones, where food is preferred due to economic factors and lack of time. Conclusions: As age increases, the consumption of street food decreases, the perception of good hygiene of these foods changes and the reasons for consumption are modified.RESUMEN: El consumo de comida callejera se ha masificado en todos los países, sin embargo, se desconocen las razones de consumo y las percepciones por parte de los consumidores, sobre la higiene de dicha comida. Objetivo: describir el consumo, las razones del consumo y las percepciones de los consumidores sobre la comida callejera según grupo etario. Material y Métodos: Se elaboró una encuesta de 15 preguntas en formato Google Docs, adaptada a cada país, traducida en español o portugués y aplicada a 8.895 personas en 11 países de Iberoamérica (Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Portugal y Uruguay). Resultados: El 53,6% de los encuestados indica que consume comida callejera, el mayor consumo (63,6%) se presenta en el grupo de menor edad (18-30 años), y va disminuyendo a medida que aumenta la edad. La percepción ligada a la suciedad de los alimentos aumenta a medida que aumenta la edad. De otro lado, a medida que aumenta la edad se prefieren los alimentos por ser ricos y sabrosos, y por estar disponibles, en cambio entre los más jóvenes, se prefieren los alimentos por factores económicos y por falta de tiempo. Conclusiones: A medida que aumenta la edad disminuye el consumo de comida callejera, cambia la percepción de buena higiene de estos alimentos y se modifican las razones del consumo

Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Latin American University Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multi-Center Study

ABSTRACT Background: Deterioration in the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and healthy eating behavior due to the effect of COVID-19 lockdown has been reported. The aim of this study was to associate eating habits and HRQoL with physical activity behavior in Latin American university students during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Measured 4,859 university students with a mean age of 22.4years and they were mostly female (73.7%) from 10 Latin American countries (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and, Peru). Eating habits were measured using a survey validated with other university students, HRQoL was assessments using the short version of the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF) scale and physical activity behavior with a dicotomous question based on the international recommendations for physical activity. Results: There is a higher complaince for all the international recommendations for healthy foods intake in the physically active group of students (p<0.01), with the exception of alcohol and salt. In addition, physically active students presented a significantly higher HRQoL (p<0.001) in all the dimensions analyzed when compared to physically inactive students. Conclusions: Latin American university students who are physically active are more likely to have a healthier eating behavior and a lower risk of a decreased HRQoL during COVID-19 pandemic.Universidad de Costa Rica//UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Medicina::Escuela de Medicin