Energy Balance-Related Behavior Risk Pattern and Its Correlates During COVID-19 Related Home Confinement

Abstract

Self-reported weight gain during the COVID-19 shelter-at-home has raised concerns for weight increases as the pandemic continues. We aimed to investigate the relationship of psychological and health markers with energy balance-related behaviors during the pandemic-related extended home confinement. Ratings for stress, boredom, cravings, sleep, self-control, and beliefs about weight control were collected from 1,609 adults using a questionnaire between April 24th–May 4th, 2020, while COVID-19 associated shelter-in-place guidelines were instituted across the US. We calculated four energy balance behavior scores (physical activity risk index, unhealthy eating risk index, healthy eating risk index, sedentary behavior index), and conducted a latent profile analysis of the risk factors. We examined psychological and health correlates of these risk patterns. Boredom, cravings for sweet/savory foods, and high sleepiness ratings related to high risk of increasing unhealthy eating and sedentary behavior and decreasing physical activity and healthy eating. Having greater self-control, control over cravings, or positive mood was related to lowering all aspects of energy intake and energy expenditure risks. Although individuals in risk pattern classes showed similarity in physical activity and healthy/unhealthy eating habits, they exhibited different patterns of positive mood, craving control, food cravings, boredom, and self-control. Psychological and health variables may have a significant role to play in risk behaviors associated with weight gain during the COVID-19 related home confinement. Emerging behavioral patterns may be meaningful in developing targeted weight management interventions during the current pandemic.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic-Induced Dietary and Lifestyle Changes and Their Associations with Perceived Health Status and Self-Reported Body Weight Changes in India: A Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Celorio-Sardà et al [56] showed that in a survey with food science students and professionals in Spain, 49% of participants reported increased frequency of physical activity for at least 30 min but noted that about one-third of the participants reported worsening lifestyle behaviors, including increased sitting time in 67% of participants. However, a decline in physical activity and an increase in sedentary time due to increased time for watching TV or engaging in social media have been observed in the United States [41,61], France [8], Spain [11], Zimbabwe [62], and multiple other nations [50]. Interestingly, we noted in the current survey that a small proportion of participants reported increased time for physical activity and sleep.…”

“…Additionally, a worldwide 67-country online survey with 10,121 participants showed a small but significant increase in body mass index (BMI) from 24.71 to 24.78 kg/m 2 during the COVID-19 pandemic [40]. Similarly, 5-10 pounds of BW gain was reported by <30% of adult participants during the self-quarantine in the United States [41,42]. Self-reported BW gain during COVID-19 pandemic was also reported in Spain (37.3%) [43], Italy (48.6%) [2], Chile (38.1%) [44], and France (35%) [8].…”

The Impact of the First and Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Eating Symptoms and Dysfunctional Eating Behaviours in the General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…These psychopathological outcomes were grouped in the same meta-analysis because of the low number of studies. Evidence of positive correlation with psychosocial distress was found for weight gain (r = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.11–0.44) [ 52 , 53 , 76 , 86 , 87 , 89 , 91 , 99 , 104 , 105 ], body image concerns (r = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.00–0.40) [ 50 , 100 , 101 ], overeating (r = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.08–0.06), and emotional eating (r = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.22–0.38) [ 36 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 90 , 93 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 100 , 102 , 103 ].…”

Patterns of energy balance-related behaviors and food insecurity in pregnant women

“…The analysis of the patterns of energy balance-related behaviors (EBRB) has been applied to evaluate jointly food intake, and physical activity in different population, mainly in adolescents [20][21][22][23] . This approach allows to investigate the complexity of these behaviors, their synergistic and potentially deleterious effects 19 .…”