Omission of meals, nutritional status and metabolic profile of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Introduction: Skipping meals has been associated with cardiometabolic risk factors such as overweight and insulin resistance. Despite this, data on the frequency of meals and the influence on the nutritional and metabolic status of individuals with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) are scarce. Objective: To investigate the correlation between missed meals, body mass index (BMI) and metabolic profile of DM2 patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with 107 individuals followed at a Nutrition outpatient clinic of a reference hospital in Fortaleza, Ceará. Socioeconomic, clinical, anthropometric and biochemical data were collected. Meal omission was verified using a 24-hour dietary recall. The correlation between the variables was verified by the Spearman and Chi-Square test, considering p<0.05 as significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 62 ± 11.34 years, where most were women (57.9%). The mean BMI was 28.67 ± 5.13 kg/m² and most were overweight (68%). Participants ate an average of 5 ± 0.94 meals per day. The median number of meals skipped was 1 (0 - 3) and 60.7% skipped at least 1 meal. The most missed meals were supper (41%) and a morning snack (38%). There was a significant positive correlation between the number of skipped meals with BMI and weight. Conclusion: The number of skipped meals is directly correlated with the nutritional status of older adults and elderly people with DM2.