Adherence
Increased snacking frequency during shelter-in-place orders is significantly associated with a higher percentage of calories derived from ultra-processed foods (UPF) and greater weight gain.
If you find yourself snacking more frequently, especially during stressful or confined periods, be aware that this behavior is strongly linked to choosing ultra-processed foods and gaining weight. To mitigate this, focus on managing snacking frequency and choosing minimally processed options for snacks, as this was the strongest behavioral predictor of positive health outcomes in this study.
Increased snacking was positively associated with a change in the percent of the calories derived from UPF and weight gain (β = 1.0, p < 0.001; β = 0.8 kg, p < 0.001)
Why this rating
The study is a cross-sectional retrospective survey with a low response rate (<10%) and self-reported data, limiting causal inference despite statistical significance.
Source
Changes in Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Lifestyle Behaviors Following COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place: A Retrospective Study
Walter D. Sobba et al. · Foods · 2021
DOI 10.3390/foods10112553
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