Weekend Variation in Ultra-Processed Food Intake of Patients after Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This study analyzed changes in ultra-processed food consumption patterns during weekends in patients in the post-metabolic and bariatric surgery periods. It is a cross-sectional study, which recruited and collected data via social media from adults who underwent metabolic and bariatric surgery. The Brazil Food and Nutritional Surveillance System markers of dietary consumption and the NOVA Ultra-Processed Food Screening tools were applied to evaluate dietary patterns and ultra-processed food consumption from the previous day. A total of 1525 participants were included, with a mean age of 38 ± 8 years and a mean body mass index of 29.9 ± 5.8 kg/m2. From these, 766 (50.3%) individuals answered the questionnaire referring to a weekend day. After adjusting for confounders, ultra-processed food consumption was higher on weekends compared to weekdays (NOVA Score 3.07 vs. 2.42; p < 0.01). The consumption of fruits and vegetables was lower on weekends, whereas the consumption of hamburgers/sausages, sugar-sweetened beverages, boxed/canned juice, and frozen pizza increased on weekends. Instant noodles and sandwich cookies did not show differences between weekdays and weekend days. This pattern suggests the need to monitor eating habits on weekends in individuals after metabolic and bariatric surgery.

Keywords

• bariatric surgery
• dietary patterns
• ultra-processed foods