[Diet during the COVID-19 pandemic among adults and older adults in Southern Brazil].

The objective was to evaluate food consumption, changes in dietary habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated factors in adults and older adults in Southern Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between 2020 and 2021, involving individuals aged 18 years and older. Food consumption was assessed based on diet quality; intake of fresh, minimally processed, and ultra-processed foods; and changes in the quantity and quality of food consumed during the pandemic self-reported. Crude and adjusted analyses were performed using Poisson Regression. A total of 2,170 individuals were studied. The prevalence of low consumption of fresh or minimally processed foods was 35.7%, and high consumption of ultra-processed foods was 30.1%. Poor diet quality was reported by 30.4% of participants. One-third of individuals reported eating more during the pandemic (31.4%), and 18.2% consumed more unhealthy foods. Also, sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics were associated with diet. The findings showed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected the diet and lifestyle habits of the population, emphasizing the importance of public health actions aimed at promoting adequate nutrition.