Actividad física como conducta auto-reguladora de ansiedad percibida y patrones disfuncionales de la ingesta en época de aislamiento por COVID-19 en latinoamericanos

Abstract

Physical activity is considered an anxiety-regulating behavior and is effective in reducing this emotional condition. Due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), governments of Latin America have applied isolation strategies to reduce the probability of contagion and thus control health effects; however, an unfavorable effect of this situation has been the increase in anxiety levels that can affect food intake. The objective of the current study was to analyze the association between physical activity and differences in dysfunctional patterns of intake in Latin American people who were in isolation. A questionnaire was applied to 1.035 people from different countries. We observed that those performing physical activity presented a 50% lower probability of perceived anxiety. Additionally, the subjects who performed physical activity presented greater cognitive restriction, and those who did not perform physical activity registered a higher level of disinhibition and emotional intake. We conclude that physical activity is an anxiety-regulating behavior in this time of isolation or quarantine and has a positive influence on individuals, since it reduces disinhibition and emotional intake, and could prevent weight gain and possible development of food pathologies. This finding is important for the promotion of physical activity in this time of confinement and similar situations, and it is also useful for interventions on subjects with emotional feeding.