Beyond lockdowns: a systematic review of the impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on dietary pattern, physical activity, body weight, and food security

Mekanna, Alexandria Nivelle; Panchal, Sunil K.; Li, Li

doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuac088

Cited by 23 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Of these, 25 papers related to mental health impacts, 13 to healthcare delivery, 12 to infection control, 13 to economic impacts, 7 to social impacts, and 3 to impacts on education. In addition, we identified systematic reviews of impacts on mental health [ 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 ], physical activity [ 46 , 65 , 92 , 93 , 94 ], diet and nutrition [ 47 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ], body weight and obesity [ 48 , 71 , 72 ], alcohol consumption [ 49 ], and tobacco smoking [ 50 , 95 ], which we present in summary below, along with individual primary research papers of particular interest.…”

Section: Review Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A subsequent systematic review by Mekanna et al (2022) [ 93 ] included studies of eating and lifestyle behaviours during and after lockdowns, which differed from those of the earlier reviews. These authors likewise found that PA generally decreased during lockdowns and, additionally, found that it increased again after the lockdowns were lifted, but they were unable to establish whether it returned to the pre-pandemic levels.…”

Section: Review Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Eight studies found that the impacts on PA were generally more unfavourable for males. Younger age had either a beneficial or an adverse influence in two different studies [ 93 ].…”

Section: Review Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Unintended Consequences of COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) for Population Health and Health Inequalities

ÓhAiseadha

Quinn

Connolly³

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, governments around the world have adopted an array of measures intended to control the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, using both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). NPIs are public health interventions that do not rely on vaccines or medicines and include policies such as lockdowns, stay-at-home orders, school closures, and travel restrictions. Although the intention was to slow viral transmission, emerging research indicates that these NPIs have also had unintended consequences for other aspects of public health. Hence, we conducted a narrative review of studies investigating these unintended consequences of NPIs, with a particular emphasis on mental health and on lifestyle risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD): physical activity (PA), overweight and obesity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco smoking. We reviewed the scientific literature using combinations of search terms such as ‘COVID-19′, ‘pandemic’, ‘lockdowns’, ‘mental health’, ‘physical activity’, and ‘obesity’. NPIs were found to have considerable adverse consequences for mental health, physical activity, and overweight and obesity. The impacts on alcohol and tobacco consumption varied greatly within and between studies. The variability in consequences for different groups implies increased health inequalities by age, sex/gender, socioeconomic status, pre-existing lifestyle, and place of residence. In conclusion, a proper assessment of the use of NPIs in attempts to control the spread of the pandemic should be weighed against the potential adverse impacts on other aspects of public health. Our findings should also be of relevance for future pandemic preparedness and pandemic response teams.

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Section: Review Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Review Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Unintended Consequences of COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) for Population Health and Health Inequalities

ÓhAiseadha

Quinn

Connolly³

et al. 2023

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic undeniably disrupted the lives of college students around the globe. The advent of this historic event and its prolonged progression has taken a significant toll on both the psychology and the behavioral health of youth and young adults, manifesting, frequently, as increases in poor dietary and other lifestyle choices [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. These choices include unhealthy behaviors such as excess alcohol consumption [ 4 , 5 , 6 ], frequent binge eating [ 7 , 8 ], and the overconsumption of ultra-processed foods [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Financial and Other Life Stressors, Psychological Distress, and Food and Beverage Consumption among Students Attending a Large California State University during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Lin

Hillstrom

Gottesman

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic abruptly disrupted the daily lives and health of college students across the United States. This study investigated several stressors (e.g., financial strain/uncertainty), psychological distress, and dietary behaviors among college students attending a large state university during the pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was administered to students from the California State University, Los Angeles between April and May 2021 (final analytic sample n = 736). Differences in gender and race/ethnicity were examined using chi-square, t-test, and one-way ANOVA tests. Paired t-tests were performed to compare variables before and during the pandemic. Negative binomial regression models examined the associations between various stressors, psychological distress, and three key dietary outcomes. Descriptive results showed that the consumption of fruits and vegetables, fast food, and sugary beverages, along with psychological distress, all increased during the pandemic. Significant differences in fruit and vegetable and fast food consumption by gender and race/ethnicity were also observed. In the regression models, several stressors, including financial strain and psychological distress, were associated with unfavorable food and beverage consumption, thereby suggesting that college students may need more support in mitigating these stressors so they do not manifest as poor dietary behaviors. Poor diet quality is associated with poor physical health outcomes such as premature development of type 2 diabetes or hypertension.

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“…8 Accordingly, many people reported more time spent sedentary, unfavorable changes to eating behaviors, and worsened anxiety and depression. 9,10 The pandemic had direct and indirect effects on pregnant individuals' everyday lives, including higher depression, 11 fewer prenatal and postpartum visits, 12,13 and increased early-pregnancy adverse outcomes. 14 These observations mirror disaster research, 15,16 which suggests that exposure to disasters during pregnancy leads to increased incidence of pregnancy loss, birth defects, and adverse child development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in Gestational Weight Gain in Louisiana, March 2019 to March 2022

Harville,

Kracht,

Cohen

et al. 2023

JAMA Netw Open

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ImportanceAverage gestational weight gain (GWG) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is not known whether this trend has continued.ObjectiveTo examine patterns of GWG during the COVID-19 pandemic by delivery and conception timing through the second year of the pandemic.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study is a retrospective review of birth certificate and delivery records from 2019 to 2022. Electronic health records were from the largest delivery hospital in Louisiana. Participants included all individuals giving birth from March 2019 to March 2022. Data analysis was performed from October 2022 to July 2023.ExposureDelivery date (cross-sectionally) and conception before the pandemic (March 2019 to March 2020) and during the peak pandemic (March 2020 to March 2021) and late pandemic (March 2021 to March 2022).Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was GWG (total GWG and adherence to the 2009 Institute of Medicine recommendations) analyzed using linear and log-linear regression with control for covariates.ResultsAmong 23 012 total deliveries (8763 Black individuals [38.1%]; 11 774 White individuals [51.2%]; mean [SD] maternal age, 28.9 [5.6] years), 3182 individuals (42.0%) exceeded the recommended weight gain in the year proceeding the pandemic, 3400 (45.4%) exceeded recommendations during the peak pandemic, and 3273 (44.0%) exceeded recommendations in the late pandemic. Compared with those who delivered before the pandemic (reference), participants had higher total GWG if they delivered peak or late pandemic (adjusted β [SE], 0.38 [0.12] kg vs 0.19 [0.12] kg; P = .007). When cohorts were defined by conception date, participants who conceived before the pandemic but delivered after the pandemic started had higher GWG compared with those whose entire pregnancy occurred before the pandemic (adjusted β [SE], 0.51 [0.16] kg). GWG was lower in the pregnancies conceived after the pandemic started and the late pandemic (adjusted β [SE], 0.29 [0.12] kg vs 0.003 [0.14] kg; P = .003) but these participants began pregnancy at a slightly higher weight. Examining mean GWG month by month suggested a small decrease for March 2020, followed by increased mean GWG for the following year. Individuals with 2 pregnancies (1289 individuals) were less likely to gain weight above the recommended guidelines compared with their prepandemic pregnancy, but this association was attenuated after adjustment.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cohort, individuals with critical time points of their pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic gained more weight compared with the previous year. The increased GWG leveled off as the pandemic progressed but individuals were slightly heavier beginning pregnancy.

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Beyond lockdowns: a systematic review of the impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on dietary pattern, physical activity, body weight, and food security

Cited by 23 publications

References 49 publications

Unintended Consequences of COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) for Population Health and Health Inequalities

Unintended Consequences of COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) for Population Health and Health Inequalities

Financial and Other Life Stressors, Psychological Distress, and Food and Beverage Consumption among Students Attending a Large California State University during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Trends in Gestational Weight Gain in Louisiana, March 2019 to March 2022

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