Effects of COVID-19 Home Confinement on Eating Behaviour and Physical Activity: Results of the ECLB-COVID19 International Online Survey

Abstract

Background: Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in 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 lifestyles at home is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020, in seven languages, to elucidate the behavioural and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the results from the first thousand responders on physical activity (PA) and nutrition behaviours. Methods: Following a structured review of the literature, the “Effects of home Confinement on multiple Lifestyle Behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak (ECLB-COVID19)” Electronic survey was designed by a steering group of multidisciplinary scientists and academics. The survey was uploaded and shared on the Google online survey platform. Thirty-five research organisations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia and the Americas promoted the survey in English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese 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 in the analysis. The COVID-19 home confinement had a negative effect on all PA intensity levels (vigorous, moderate, walking and overall). Additionally, daily sitting time increased from 5 to 8 h per day. Food consumption and meal patterns (the type of food, eating out of control, snacks between meals, number of main meals) were more unhealthy during confinement, with only alcohol binge drinking decreasing significantly. Conclusion: While isolation is a necessary measure to protect public health, results indicate that it alters physical activity and eating behaviours in a health compromising direction. 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 interventions to mitigate the negative lifestyle behaviours that have manifested during the COVID-19 confinement.

COVID-19 Home Confinement Negatively Impacts Social Participation and Life Satisfaction: A Worldwide Multicenter Study

“…Although it is an effective solution to slow the spread of infectious diseases, home confinement can also have negative effects on mental health and multiple lifestyle behaviors including social participation and life satisfaction. Indeed, recent multicenter studies showed that COVID-19 home confinement evoked an increased number of individuals who are physically inactive (+15.2%) [ 18 , 19 ], exhibiting unhealthy dietary behaviors (+10%) [ 18 , 19 ], and experiencing psychosocial and emotional disorders (+10% to +16.5%, respectively) as well as poor sleep quality (12.8%) [ 18 , 20 ] during home confinement. Regarding, social participation and life satisfaction, it was recently suggested that the COVID-19 crisis and the associated confinement may also be associated with sensations of loneliness, grief, and loss of life satisfaction [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

Digital Healthy Diet Literacy and Self-Perceived Eating Behavior Change during COVID-19 Pandemic among Undergraduate Nursing and Medical Students: A Rapid Online Survey

“…The unprecedented coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has created vast socioeconomic burdens [ 1 ], morbidity, and mortality [ 2 , 3 ]. The pandemic has also changed eating behaviors for the worse [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. To deal with this challenge, the USA National Institute of Health Nutrition Research Task Force developed a 2020–2030 strategic plan to improve health and prevent or combat diseases and conditions that have been affected by food and nutrition [ 8 ].…”

Potential metabolic and inflammatory pathways between COVID-19 and new-onset diabetes

“…Stay-at-home orders, self-isolation, and social distancing measures are crucial to flatten the curve of this disease. However, these measures are having negative impacts, including reduced physical activity, unhealthy eating, and weight gain [19] . These changes in lifestyle have numerous pathophysiological effects, including promoting insulin resistance via a range of well-described mechanisms, including triggering inflammatory pathways, which would presumably increase the risk of new-onset diabetes in high-risk individuals.…”