Diet, Exercise, and Nutrition Challenges in Mexican Adults During COVID-19: a Study

Completed

• Conditions: COVID19 Disease

• Registration Number: NCT06817070
• Lead Sponsor: Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro

Brief Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic was particularly devastating in developing countries such as Mexico, where the nation reported some of the highest COVID-19 cases and a high prevalence of obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the food consumption among Mexican adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 1,082 Mexican adults recruited through online invitations containing a link to complete a survey. A 48-item questionnaire was designed to assess the frequency of food consumption and sociodemographic characteristics in a semi-quantitative manner. A retrospective instrument was used to evaluate physical activity (days/week and duration).

Detailed Description

The COVID-19 pandemic had a particularly harsh impact on developing countries like Mexico, which reported some of the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases and a significant prevalence of obesity. This study aimed to examine the eating habits of Mexican adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, involving 1,082 Mexican adults who were recruited via online invitations that included a link to complete a questionnaire. A 48-item survey was created to evaluate the frequency of food consumption and sociodemographic factors semi-quantitatively. Physical activity was assessed using a retrospective tool to measure the frequency and duration of exercise per week.

The main discovery identified two dietary patterns: industrialized and healthy. The industrialized dietary pattern was more common and included the consumption of sugary dairy products, sugary drinks, alcoholic beverages, sweets, fried foods, and both red and processed meats. Men consumed significantly more ultra-processed foods (22.5%) compared to women (15.45%) based on a 2000 kcal diet. In addition, participants did not meet the recommended intake levels for fruits, vegetables, legumes, and natural dairy products. Intake of sugary drinks was three times higher than recommended for both genders. Regarding physical activity, only 29.7% of participants reported engaging in adequate physical activity.

The study also highlighted insufficient consumption of nuts and an excessive intake of red and processed meats. It underscored the necessity for intervention and educational initiatives to improve dietary choices, particularly among younger populations.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-08-01
• Primary Completion: 2021-10-01
• Study Completion: 2021-10-15
• Status Verified: 2025-02
• Study First Submitted: 2025-02-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-02-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-02-06
• Study First Posted: 2025-02-10
• Last Update Posted: 2025-02-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1082

Inclusion Criteria

Additional to the age, people living in Mexico during the COVID pandemics.

Exclusion Criteria

People who did not live in Mexico during the COVID pandemics

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Sociodemographics	2 months	The survey yielded a sample of 1,082 participants. Women made up 66% of the respondents. The majority of participants were in the 18 to 24-year-old age group (48.9%), followed by those aged 25 to 34 (15.8%). As for BMI, 64% of participants reported having a normal BMI. Additionally, 47.9% indicated they led a sedentary lifestyle, whereas only 29.7% reported engaging in optimal physical activity.
Dietary Patterns	2 months	Two dietary patterns were identified in the study. The first, termed the "industrialized diet," is characterized by high consumption of natural dairy products, white meats, processed dairy products with added sugar, red and processed meats, alcoholic beverages, sugary drinks, confectionery, sweets, snacks, and fried foods. The second, known as the "healthy dietary pattern," includes high consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, natural dairy products, white meats, and nuts. These patterns explained 43.33% of the total variance in the participants' diets.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universidad de Monterrey; 🇲🇽 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico