Effects of COVID-19 home confinement on physical activity and eating behaviour Preliminary results of the ECLB-COVID19 international online-survey

Abstract

Background Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have enforced numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on health behaviours and lifestyle at home is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020 in seven languages to elucidate the behavioral and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the preliminary results from the first thousand responders on physical activity (PA) and nutrition behaviours. Methods Thirty-five research organisations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, in English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portugese, and Slovenian languages. Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses before and during confinement conditions. Results 1047 replies (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other (3%) were included into a general analysis. The COVID-19 home confinement had a negative effect on all intensities of PA (vigorous, moderate, walking and overall). Conversely, daily sitting time increased from 5 to 8 hours per day. Additionally, food consumption and meal patterns (the type of food, eating out of control, snacks between meals, number of meals) were more unhealthy during confinement with only alcohol binge drink decreasing significantly. Conclusion While isolation is a necessary measure to protect public health, our results indicate that it alters physical activity and eating behaviours in a direction that would compromise health. A more detailed analysis of survey data will allow for a segregation of these responses in different age groups, countries and other subgroups which will help develop bespoke interventions to mitigate the negative lifestyle behaviors manifest during the COVID-19 confinement.

Behavioural change towards reduced intensity physical activity is disproportionately prevalent among adults with serious health issues or self-perception of high risk during the UK COVID-19 lockdown

“…New advice that promotes home-based exercises such as including extra daily step counts [5] and more intensive forms of PA [23] should be To date, studies examining changes in PA before and during COVID-19 lockdown are very limited in number; this is the first study using data from the UK to examine changes in PA intensity during the COVID-19 lockdown. The results of this study are in line with recent findings from an online survey (n =1,047) of participants from across different continents, which indicate that home confinement due to COVID-19 could negatively impact participation in PA such that it was associated with a 35% reduction (equivalent to 2.45 days) in the number of days per week walking [24].…”

Behavioral Change Towards Reduced Intensity Physical Activity Is Disproportionately Prevalent Among Adults With Serious Health Issues or Self-Perception of High Risk During the UK COVID-19 Lockdown

“…To date, studies examining changes in PA before and during COVID-19 lockdown are limited in number but the results of this study are in line with recent findings from an online survey (n = 1,047) of participants from across different continents, which indicate that home confinement due to COVID-19 could negatively impact participation in PA such that it was associated with a 35% reduction (equivalent to 2.45 days) in the number of days per week walking (19).…”

“…The pandemic spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (1) was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization on 30 January 2020 1 and by the end of April 2020 the virus had infected more than 3 million people worldwide, causing more than 200,000 deaths 2 . In order to limit the spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19), governments across the globe imposed varying degrees of social distancing advice and nationwide lockdowns. On 23 March 2020 the UK government enacted measures that were included in the Coronavirus Act 2020 and recommended that everyone must stay in their homes unless (i) shopping for essentials such as food and medicine, (ii) requiring medical assistance, (iii) caring for vulnerable people, (iv) traveling to and from work if absolutely necessary and (v) to carry out one form of exercise (e.g.…”

Socio-Cognitive Factors Associated With Lifestyle Changes in Response to the COVID-19 Epidemic in the General Population: Results From a Cross-Sectional Study in France

“…Though these measures have been vital for preventing the spread of COVID-19, they may have alsoresulted in adverse health effects. Firstly, the ensuing reduction in social (collective training sessions or sport events) and physical (barred access to exercise facilities, or parks)opportunities to exercise may have had a direct effect onsedentary behaviors ( Ammar et al, 2020 ). It must be noted however that each person in France had a 1-hour authorization to exercise locally ( Legifrance, 2020 ).…”