Sistema FMUSP-HC: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) e Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSPNOLL, Priscilla Rayanne E. SilvaNASCIMENTO, Monique G.BAYER, Luiza Helena Costa MoreiraZANGIROLAMI-RAIMUNDO, JulianaTURRI, Jose Antonio OrellanaNOLL, MatiasBARACAT, Edmund ChadaSOARES JUNIOR, Jose MariaSORPRESO, Isabel Cristina Esposito2023-10-302023-10-302023NUTRIENTS, v.15, n.15, article ID 3494, 14p, 2023https://observatorio.fm.usp.br/handle/OPI/56138Studying the dietary habits and symptoms of postmenopausal women during situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic is important to mitigate long-term post-pandemic health problems. We compared the menopausal symptoms and food consumption in postmenopausal women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A longitudinal survey was conducted on postmenopausal Brazilian women between 2018 and 2021. The Kupperman-Blatt Menopausal Index, Women's Health Questionnaire, and 24 h food recall were used. Of 274 women, 78 (28.5%) participated in the study during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intensity of the symptoms was lower during the pandemic than during the previous period (p < 0.05). Energy and processed food consumption were lower during the pandemic than before (p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively). Milk and plain yogurt consumption were also lower (p = 0.043), while the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and sweet foods was higher (p = 0.007 and p = 0.001, respectively) during the pandemic. There was also a decrease in the consumption of proteins and lipids (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). In conclusion, we found that postmenopausal women consumed sweet foods and sugar-sweetened beverages in higher quantities and had a lower consumption of milk and plain yogurt and processed foods during the pandemic than during the pre-pandemic period. Furthermore, decreases in energy and macronutrient consumption were observed.engopenAccesscoronavirusfood intakeeating habitsultra-processed foodsindustrialized foodfood securityNOVA classificationmenopausal symptomsdrink consumptionmenopausalimpactsymptomsprevalencedepressionbehaviorsdietcarearticleCopyright MDPI10.3390/nu15153494Nutrition & Dietetics2072-6643