scholarly journals Physical Activity Is Associated With Improved Eating Habits During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego G. D. Christofaro ◽  
André O. Werneck ◽  
William R. Tebar ◽  
Mara C. Lofrano-Prado ◽  
Joao Paulo Botero ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between physical activity and eating habits during the COVID-19 pandemic among Brazilian adults. A sample of 1,929 participants answered an online survey, however 1,874 were included in the analysis. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating habits was assessed inquiring about participants' intake of fruits, vegetables, fried foods, and sweets during the pandemic. Physical activity was assessed by asking participants about their weekly frequency, intensity and number of minutes/hours engaging in structured physical activities per week. Participants were then stratified into categories based on moderate-to-vigorous intensity (0–30; 31–90; 91–150; 151–300; and >300 min/week) and into active (≥150 min) or inactive (<150 min). Increased sweets consumption was the most commonly reported change to eating habits (42.5%), followed by an increase in the consumption of vegetables (26.6%), fruits (25.9%), and fried foods (17.9%). Physical activity practice was related to lower consumption of fried foods (OR = 0.60; p < 0.001) and sweets (OR = 0.53; p < 0.001). A cluster analysis revealed subjects with higher the level of physical activity was more likely to follow a healthy diet (p < 0.001). Thus, physical activity was positively associated with healthier eating habits. Health authorities must recommend regular physical as a strategy to improve overall health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies should address the physical activity interventions to improve health status during a pandemic.

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e043397
Author(s):  
Austen El-Osta ◽  
Aos Alaa ◽  
Iman Webber ◽  
Eva Riboli Sasco ◽  
Emmanouil Bagkeris ◽  
...  

ObjectiveInvestigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on feelings of loneliness and social isolation in parents of school-age children.DesignCross-sectional online survey of parents of primary and secondary school-age children.SettingCommunity setting.Participants1214 parents of school-age children in the UK.MethodsAn online survey explored the impact of lockdown on the mental health of parents with school-age children, and in particular about feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Associations between the UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale (UCLATILS), the Direct Measure of Loneliness (DMOL) and the characteristics of the study participants were assessed using ordinal logistic regression models.Main outcome measuresSelf-reported measures of social isolation and loneliness using UCLATILS and DMOL.ResultsHalf of respondents felt they lacked companionship, 45% had feelings of being left out, 58% felt isolated and 46% felt lonely during the first 100 days of lockdown. The factors that were associated with higher levels of loneliness on UCLATILS were female gender, parenting a child with special needs, lack of a dedicated space for distance learning, disruption of sleep patterns and low levels of physical activity during the lockdown. Factors associated with a higher DMOL were female gender, single parenting, parenting a child with special needs, unemployment, low physical activity, lack of a dedicated study space and disruption of sleep patterns during the lockdown.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 lockdown has increased feelings of social isolation and loneliness among parents of school-age children. The sustained adoption of two modifiable health-seeking lifestyle behaviours (increased levels of physical activity and the maintenance of good sleep hygiene practices) wmay help reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness during lockdown.


Author(s):  
Hubert Dobrowolski ◽  
Dariusz Włodarek

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a number of changes in social life around the world. In response to the growing number of infections, some countries have introduced restrictions that may have resulted in the change of the lifestyle. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of the lockdown on body weight, physical activity and some eating habits of the society. The survey involving 183 people was conducted using a proprietary questionnaire. The mean age of the study participants was 33 ± 11 and mean height 169 ± 8 cm. An average increase in body weight was observed in 49.18% by 0.63 ± 3.7 kg which was the result of a decrease in physical activity and an increase in food consumption. We also observed a decrease in PAL from 1.64 ± 0.15 to 1.58 ± 0.13 and changes in the amount of food and individual groups of products consumption, including alcohol. Among the study participants who did not lose body mass, there was an average weight gain of 2.25 ± 2.5 kg. In conclusion, an increase of weight was shown in about half of the respondents in the study group which was associated with a decrease in physical activity and an increase in the consumption of total food and high energy density products.


Author(s):  
Matthew Pears ◽  
Susanna Kola-Palmer ◽  
Liane Beretta De Azevedo

Abstract Objective The primary aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity (PA) and sitting time on adults’ mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety and wellbeing) and the influence of mediators and confounders. Methods An online survey was disseminated in the UK between May and June 2020. A total of 284 participants (33.5 ± 12.4 years) self-reported their PA, sitting time and mental health through validated questionnaires. Results Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that being of younger age, female, on a lower income, with one or more comorbid health conditions, with a previous diagnosis of mood disorder and increased sitting time independently correlated with higher depression scores (F (13,219) = 12.31, p < 0.001), and explained 42% of the variance. Similar results were found for wellbeing where socio-demographic, health outcomes and sitting time influenced the subjective wellbeing (F (14,218) = 5.77, p < 0.001, 27% variance), although only socio-demographic and health outcomes contributed to the variation in anxiety score (F (13,219) = 7.84, p < 0.001, 32% variance). PA did not explain variation when sitting time was taken into account in any of the models. Combined analysis revealed that participants with lower sedentary time (< 8 h) and with both low or moderate and high PA presented a significantly lower depression score [low PA: (B = −2.7, 95% CI −4.88, −0.52); moderate and high PA (B = −2.7, −4.88, −0.52)]. Conclusion Sitting time was strongly associated with adverse mental health during COVID-19 lockdown and should be considered in future public health recommendations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abouzid ◽  
◽  
Dina M. El-Sherif ◽  
Nael Kamel Eltewacy ◽  
Nesrine Ben Hadj Dahman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected health and lifestyle behaviors of people globally. This project aims to identify the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behavior of individuals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during confinement. Methods We conducted an online survey in 17 countries (Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, and Sudan) from the MENA region on August and September 2020. The questionnaire included self-reported information on lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, eating habits, smoking, watching television, social media use and sleep before and during the pandemic. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors. Results A total of 5896 participants were included in the final analysis and 62.8% were females. The BMI of the participants was 25.4 ± 5.8 kg/m2. Around 38.4% of the participants stopped practicing any physical activities during the confinement (P < 0.001), and 57.1% reported spending more than 2 h on social media (P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in smoking habits. Also, 30.9% reported an improvement in their eating habits compared with 24.8% reported worsening of their eating habits. Fast-food consumption decreased significantly in 48.8% of the study population. This direct/indirect exposure to COVID-19 was associated with an increased consumption of carbohydrates (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.17; P = 0.01), egg (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.01), sugar (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.02), meat, and poultry (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.06–1.20; P < 0.01). There was also associated increase in hours spent on watching television (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02–1.12; P < 0.01) and social media (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.01–1.18; P = 0.03). However, our results showed a reduction in sleeping hours among those exposed to COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.77–0.94; P < 0.01). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in food consumption and sedentary life. Being exposed to COVID-19 by direct infection or through an infected household is a significant predictor of amplifying these changes. Public health interventions are needed to address healthy lifestyle behaviors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 622
Author(s):  
Angelo Galluccio ◽  
Giovanna Caparello ◽  
Ennio Avolio ◽  
Emanuele Manes ◽  
Simona Ferraro ◽  
...  

The global pandemic coronavirus disease (COVID-19) resulted in restrictions which forced adolescents to stay at home and influenced their food habits and lifestyles with potential negative health impact. This study aims to investigate the self-reported physical activity (PA) and eating habits related to the consumption of Mediterranean foods in a sample of adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown enrolled into the DIMENU study. A web survey was launched for 91 adolescents (aged 15–17 years) to assess their adherence to the Mediterranean Diet using the KIDMED test and lifestyle habits using a questionnaire designed following recommendations by Italian National Institute of Health (ISS score). Our results indicate that most of the sample declared no changes in eating habits and PA without sex differences. After dividing the sample into active and sedentary groups based on the self-perceived PA, we found that KIDMED and ISS scores were significantly higher (p = 0.0028 and p = 0.0001, respectively) in active adolescents. Moreover, KIDMED was positively correlated with ISS only in active adolescents (r = 0.311, p = 0.0185). In conclusion, our data underline the impact of the PA on the Mediterranean diet adherence in adolescents during the lockdown, suggesting the usefulness of promoting wellness programs directed towards inactive individuals to increase their awareness on the importance of healthy lifestyles.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather J A Foulds ◽  
Shannon S D Bredin ◽  
Sarah A Charlesworth ◽  
Adam C Ivey ◽  
Darren E R Warburton

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge F. Elgart ◽  
◽  
Luis Flores ◽  
Analía G. Abraham ◽  
Graciela L. Garrote ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction: the confinement imposed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 induces changes in habits and unhealthy lifestyles. Objectives: to verify changes associated with confinement in eating habits and lifestyle in the Argentine population and their differences between the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires (AMBA) and the rest of the country. Materials and methods: cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study, through an “online” survey (December 2020) carried out on adults residing in Argentina. Age, gender and place of residence were surveyed, as well as the changes registered regarding weight, eating habits, physical activity, desire to eat and quality of sleep. A descriptive analysis of the valid surveys received (N=1,536) was carried out, verifying differences between the regions using parametric and nonparametric tests, considering significant p<0.05. Results: 75.1% of the participants were women (38.8±13.1 years), 60.5% from the AMBA and 39.5% from the rest of the country. Isolation was associated with changes that impacted on the psychological, stress, healthy habits, and sleep, with some significant regional differences. However, the common end result between AMBA and the rest of the country was the greater increase in caloric intake and the decrease in physical activity that led to 39.7% of the participants increasing their weight (mean 4.8±2,8 kg). Conclusions: isolation was associated with undesirable side effects, which could be diminished through the virtual promotion of healthy habits that would simultaneously decrease the growth of obesity and diabetes. Key words: COVID-19; social isolation; eating habits; lifestyle; physical activity.


2021 ◽  
pp. 240-251
Author(s):  
Márcia Greguol ◽  
Cristiana Conti ◽  
Bruno Marson Malagodi ◽  
Bruna Barboza Seron ◽  
Elaine Cappellazzo Souto ◽  
...  

The global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 has profoundly changed the daily life of most of the world population. People with disabilities have been particularly affected by these changes, which often have accentuated their isolation and marginalization also due to greater difficulties in accessing healthcare services. People with disabilities have also been impacted in relation to their ability to participate in physical activity with even more adverse consequences for their quality of life and health. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity practice of people with disabilities and to understand the changes that caregivers have perceived for the participation in physical activity of this specific population. It emerged that, regardless of the type of disability, people with this condition experienced drastic reductions in their physical activity levels during the pandemic and in most cases did not have access to any type of remote guidance. Furthermore, a higher prevalence of sedentary behavior and negative changes in eating habits have been reported by the caregivers, highlighting the need for specific strategies and initiatives for people with disabilities to maintain healthy habits and a physically active lifestyle.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Ye ◽  
Li Zhou ◽  
Joseph Yeboah ◽  
Peter H Brubaker ◽  
Alain G Bertoni

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a growing public health problem which is the leading cause of hospitalization. About half of people who develop HF die within 5 years of diagnosis. Recent evidence suggests that physical inactivity may be an important risk for HF. However, the importance of physical activity in the prevention and treatment have not been adequately recognized. Self-reported physical activity can provide insights into the impact of lifestyle behaviors on mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity and HF in a nationally representative sample of United States (US) adults. Methods: The 2007-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data collection cycles were used for this analysis. Participants aged 65 and older with HF were defined as those who answered “yes” to the question: “Has a doctor or other health professional ever told you that you had congestive HF?” Frequency and duration of self-reported moderate-intensity (“Days moderate recreational activities” and “Minutes moderate recreational activities”) and vigorous-intensity Days vigorous recreational activities” and “Minutes vigorous recreational activities”) physical activity were collected through questionnaires as well in all data cycles. We used 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Older Adults, which recommended that most older adults (age≥65 years) participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week as our cut-off points for calculating moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Results: Between 2007-2008 and 2015-2016, the percentage of US adults ≥65 years with HF increased from 2.76% to 3.69% (p=0.04). Although a similar percentage of participants who met the criteria of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week was noted in both groups from 2007 to 2016 (on average, HF: 56.9% vs. HF-free: 56.7%, respectively, p>0.05), more HF-free participants reported at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity recreational activities per week compared to HF participants in each calendar year (82.8% vs. 66.7%, 85.0% vs. 70.0%, 83.5% vs. 55.0%, 87.0% vs.75%, 85.2% vs. 63.6%, respectively, p<0.01). Additionally, among those who reported activities, older adults with HF were less than 20 times as likely to report moderate or vigorous recreational activities compared to those without HF. Conclusions: Our findings illustrate lower self-reported physical recreational activities, especially vigorous activities, in older participants who report a diagnosis of HF and more participants without HF report vigorous-intensity recreational activities. Future study should focus on understanding the physical limitations of HF patients, which is paramount in developing cardiac rehabilitation strategies to improve their function capacity.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document