Getting fat in quarantine: discourses on food in internet portals

Abstract

The concern with food, especially when associated with body weight, is a common issue in the Brazilian population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this concern came under a “getting fat in quarantine” issue, shown through memes, social media posts, and Internet portals. Objective: This study critically analyzes the discourses about food, in the quarantine context experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in articles published on Internet portals in Brazil. Materials and methods: Through a qualitative approach, 26 articles were analyzed. A thematic analysis was carried out, identifying three different themes. Subsequently, these themes were analyzed, highlighting which discourses about food were presented. Results: The biomedical discourse on food was predominant in the articles analyzed. The symbolic, social, and affective dimensions of food were overlooked in favor of a nutritional and individualistic understanding of food. While in other articles, this discourse was strained by political and social issues.