Dieters in the Covid-19 Pandemic: Risk for Eating Disorders and Their Association with Food Cravings and Intuitive Eating Traits

Abstract

Objectives: To characterize a group of university students in social isolation regarding their eating behaviors and to investigate whether dieters have a tendency to engage in binge-eating. Study Design: Cross-sectional study carried out during Brazil’s first months of social isolation. Methods: University students filled out the Eating Attitudes Test—EAT, the Binge-eating Scale—BES, and the Hay questionnaire. In addition, the current research also evaluated food cravings (FC) and intuitive eating. Student’s t-test was used to compare the effect sizes (Cohen’s d) between groups. Results: More than 90% of participants were isolated from academic activities, and 68% reported significant dietary change. Those who dieted (n = 57) were less confident in signs of hunger and satiety (d = −0.9, p < 0.001) and had higher binge-eating and FC levels than those who did not diet. Conclusions: Data reinforces the high prevalence of risk for eating disorders in university students, the impact of dieting on FC, and intuitive eating during social isolation.