Eating behaviors, eating styles and body mass index during COVID-19 confinement in a college sample: a predictive model

Abstract

Plain English summary The COVID-19 confinement affected the lifestyles of the young population, especially eating behaviors. It is not yet known whether eating problems, such as binge eating and high fat intake, changed during this period in the young people. It is also not known whether the young population perceived changes in their BMI during COVID-19 confinement. In addition, eating styles (emotional eating, restrictive eating, and external eating) may be predictors of this change. The present study found that binge eating and fat intake decreased in COVID-19 confinement, and BMI and eating styles remained stable. Eating styles predicted change in these eating problems (binge eating and fat intake) and change in BMI during this period of elevated stress. Therefore, eating styles may help to understand dietary changes during times of high stress.

Keywords

• COVID-19 confinement
• Maladaptive eating styles
• Binge eating
• Fat intake
• Body mass index
• Dysfunctional eating behaviors