Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39292384›Full record

ArticlePsicologia, reflexao e critica : revista semestral do Departamento de Psicologia da UFRGS2024

Addiction to ultra-processed foods as a mediator between psychological stress and emotional eating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jasmin B Stariolo, Thayane C Lemos, Neha Khandpur, Mirtes G Pereira, Leticia de Oliveira, Izabela Mocaiber, Taiane C Ramos, Isabel A David

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Psicologia, reflexao e critica : revista semestral do Departamento de Psicologia da UFRGS, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Household income and food addiction symptoms predict ultra-processed foods intake in Brazilian university students: implications for policy.Psicologia, reflexao e critica : revista semestral do Departamento de Psicologia da UFRGS · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Socio-demographic, dietary, exercise, and mental health factors associated with food addiction symptoms in university students.Psicologia, reflexao e critica : revista semestral do Departamento de Psicologia da UFRGS · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jasmin B StarioloDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedical Institute, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0297-4397
Thayane C LemosDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedical Institute, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9275-8967
Neha KhandpurDepartment of Nutrition, Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4766-8361
Mirtes G PereiraDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedical Institute, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4682-223X
Leticia de OliveiraDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedical Institute, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8450-2264
Izabela MocaiberLaboratory of Cognitive Psychophysiology, Department of Natural Sciences, Institute of Humanities and Health, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio das Ostras, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7332-1273
Taiane C Ramos *Department of Computer Science, Computer Institute, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0351-1450
Isabel A David *Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedical Institute, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil. isabeldavid@id.uff.br.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3894-8043

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic induced psychological distress, which is linked to emotional eating and symptoms of addiction to ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

objectiveThis study aimed to investigate whether symptoms of addiction to UPFs mediate the relationship between psychological stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic and emotional eating behaviour.

methodsA cross-sectional online study was conducted from May to November 2021 among 368 undergraduate Brazilian students. The participants answered demographic questions and completed validated scales, including the Coronavirus Stress Measure, Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 and Emotional Eating Questionnaire. Mediation analysis was employed to examine the hypothesised relationships.

resultsThe results revealed a significant indirect effect, indicating that symptoms of food addiction mediated the association between perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and emotional eating behaviour. Specifically, 61% of the influence of perceived stress on emotional eating during the pandemic was explained by symptoms of UPF addiction.

conclusionThese findings suggest that addressing symptoms of UPF addiction could be pivotal in public health strategies aimed at promoting healthy eating habits among distressed undergraduate students in the post-COVID-19 era.

Indexed as

COVID-19Emotional eatingFood addictionMediation analysisPsychological stress

Identifiers

PMID39292384
PMCPMC11410752

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.