Characterization of body composition of adults seen in nutritional consultation before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Accumulation of body fat and/or loss of lean mass increases or decreases susceptibility and immune response to infectious processes such as SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to analyze the body composition of adults attending outpatient nutritional consultations before and during the pandemic. Retrospective observational study that included 972 Ecuadorian subjects aged 18-60 years who attended nutritional consultations between 2018 and 2021. Body composition was measured with anthropometry and bioimpedance. Differences in body composition before and during the pandemic were established with the T-student test. Multivariate cluster analysis was performed, and three clusters were obtained according to body composition. When analyzing the clusters according to nutritional care before or during the pandemic, cluster 3 (lower body mass index, lower total body water, lower protein and mineral mass, lower skeletal muscle mass, higher body fat percentage and visceral fat level) was more prevalent during the pandemic. It is concluded that the population that attended nutritional consultation during the pandemic had a worse body composition. Probably, the decrease in physical activity and an obesogenic environment during the pandemic caused concern among individuals who attended nutritional consultation with a body composition characterized by a worse lean mass than subjects who attended nutritional consultation before the pandemic.