Associação entre saúde mental e hábitos alimentares em indivíduos com Diabetes Tipo 1 durante o distanciamento social pela pandemia de COVID-19 no Brasil

Abstract

Social distancing was considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, but this strategy caused a series of changes in people's social lives, including disabled persons. Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). Changes in mental health are often associated with diabetes, which can result in lower adherence to treatment and worse outcomes related to the management of the disease. Considering that the context experienced during social distancing can affect the mental health and eating habits of individuals with T1DM, the present study aimed to evaluate the association between mental health and eating habits of individuals with T1DM during social distancing by COVID-19 in Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study carried out in July 2020 using an online form. Sociodemographic and economic data, mental health perception through the adapted DSM-5 Level 1 Symptoms Scale - adult - were used, in addition to data on eating habits, through the consumption pattern of fruits, vegetables, sweets, ultra-processed foods, cooking habits, number of daily meals, change in food and water use. The results showed that participants who perceived moderate and severe symptoms of depression and anxiety had a positive association with increased food consumption in general, especially sweets and ultra-processed foods, such as snacks (snacks and cookies), as well as having a positive association with reduced fruit consumption and reduced cooking habits. Individuals with lower perceptions of symptoms of depression and anxiety showed a negative association with bad eating habits. It was evidenced that situations of social distancing, such as the one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, can affect the mental health of individuals with T1DM, in this way, greater perceptions of symptoms of depression and anxiety can cause changes in consumption and food choices, affecting self-care and adherence to nutritional therapy recommended for this population.