Impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle-related behaviours- a cross-sectional audit of responses from nine hundred and ninety-five participants from India

Abstract

Background and aims The impact of measures taken to contain COVID-19 on lifestyle-related behaviour is undefined in Indian population. The current study was undertaken to assess the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle-related behaviours: eating, physical activity and sleep behaviour. Methods The study is a cross-sectional web-based survey. A validated questionnaire to assess the changes in lifestyle-related behaviour was administered on adults across India using a Google online survey platform. Results A total of 995 responses (58.5% male, mean age 33.3 years) were collected. An improvement in healthy meal consumption pattern and a restriction of unhealthy food items was observed, especially in the younger population (age <30 years). A reduction in physical activity coupled with an increase in daily screen time was found especially among men and in upper-socio-economic strata. Quarantine induced stress and anxiety showed an increase by a unit in nearly one-fourth of the participants. Conclusions COVID-19 marginally improved the eating behaviour, yet one-third of participants gained weight as physical activity declined significantly coupled with an increase in screen and sitting time. Mental health was also adversely affected. A detailed understanding of these factors can help to develop interventions to mitigate the negative lifestyle behaviours that have manifested during COVID-19.

Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on lifestyle behaviour: A review of studies published in India

“…1 represents the steps taken for literature search. A total of 11 cross-sectional studies (10 community based [ 3 , 4 , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] ] and 01 hospital based [ 5 ]), conducted among the Indian population, with a varying sample size from 110 to 1026 subjects, conducted between the duration of March 29, 2020, to August 30, 2020, were included.…”

“…Out of all 11 articles (N = 5957, age group 18–70 years, comprising males and females) included in the present review 9 [ [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] ], 8 [ 3 , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] ] and 6 [ 3 , 5 , [7] , [8] , [9] , 11 ] articles were stressed studying about eating or dietary behaviour, sleep and physical activity or exercise status respectively. Whereas, psychosocial or any kind of mental stress was found common among all 11 articles [ [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] ] ( Table 1 ).…”

“… S. No. Author and Year Sample Size Study design Study Period Diet Physical Activity Stress Sleep Type of study Nair DR et al., 2020 [ 3 ] 263 Cross-sectional (Online Survey) April 30, 2020, to May 12, 2020 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ C Paul G et al., 2020 [ 4 ] 1026 Cross-sectional, observational study (Online Survey) The first week of May ✓ ✓ C Sankar P et al., 2020 [ 5 ] 110 Cross-sectional, observational study (Direct Interview) May 2020 (third week) to June 2020 (third week) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ H Basu S et al., 2020 [ 6 ] 1011 Cross-sectional (Online survey) – ✓ ✓ ✓ C Dey S et al., 2020 [ 7 ] 234 Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study Last week of May ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ C Chopra S et al., 2020 [ 8 ] ...…”

“…However, in general, an overall change in eating and dietary habits than usual was observed in terms of overeating. Snacking and meal frequency was found to be increased [ 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]. An increased intake of fruits, herbal tonics, vitamins [ 4 ], consumption of ginger, garlic along with multivitamins [ 6 ] among the participants due to their perceivable immune-boosting effect was observed.…”

“…Consumption of hydroxychloroquine as prophylaxis by the participants was also observed [ 10 ]. Improvements in healthy eating like consumption of vegetables [ 5 , 8 ], fruits [ 5 , 8 , 9 ], drop-down in unhealthy snacking were also observed [ 5 , 8 ]. Whereas, Dey S et al., [ 7 ] reported that more than half of the participants were eating unhealthily ( Table 2 ).…”