The COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the lifestyles of Brazilian adolescents.

Malta, Deborah Carvalho; Gomes, Crizian Saar; Barros, Marilisa Berti de Azevedo; Lima, Margareth Guimaraes; Silva, Alanna Gomes da; Cardoso, Laís Santos de Magalhães; Werneck, André Oliveira; Silva, Danilo Rodrigues Pereira da; Ferreira, Arthur Pate de Souza; Romero, Dália Elena; Freitas, Maria Imaculada de Fátima; Machado, Ísis Eloah; Souza Júnior, Paulo Roberto Borges de; Damacena, Giseli Nogueira; Azevedo, Luiz Otávio; Almeida, Wanessa da Silva de; Szwarcwald, Célia Landmann

OBJECTIVE To analyze changes in the lifestyles of Brazilian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Cross-sectional study carried out with adolescents who participated in the survey "ConVid Adolescentes - Pesquisa de Comportamentos". The indicators related to lifestyles before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated: consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods, physical activity and sedentary behavior, smoking and consumption of alcohol. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the total population and according to sex and age group. RESULTS A total of 9,470 adolescents participated in the study. During the period of social distancing, there was an increase in the prevalence of vegetables consumption (from 27.34 to 30.5%), frozen foods (from 13.26 to 17.3%), chocolates and sweets (from 48.58 to 52.51%), and time in front of screens (from 44.57 to 70.15%). On the other hand, there was a decrease in the practice of physical activity (from 28.70 to 15.74%) and in the consumption of alcohol (from 17.72 to 12.77%). Differences were observed according to sex and age group. CONCLUSION The results show changes in the lifestyle of adolescents and an increase in health risk behaviors.