Lifestyle changes associated with COVID-19 quarantine among young Saudi women: A prospective study

Abstract

Background Negative lifestyle behaviors are associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes from coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This study aimed to assess lifestyle changes affecting weight, sleep, mental health, physical activity, and dietary habits prospectively from before COVID-19 to during lockdown. Methods A total of 297 Saudi women, aged 19–30 years (mean age, 20.7 ± 1.4 years), were interviewed at two time points, before and during the quarantine. The data collected included anthropometrics, sociodemographic data, clinical history, food frequency questionnaire responses, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) responses, and Perceived Stress Scale measures. In addition, during quarantine, COVID-19 and nutrition-related information and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores were collected. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine the indicators of weight gain and loss from before COVID-19 (baseline) until during lockdown. Results Although approximately half of the participants did not report a weight change, 30% revealed weight loss and 18%, weight gain. The variables associated with increased weight gain were self-quarantine since COVID-19 started (OR: 5.17, 95% CI: 1.57–17.01, p = 0.007), age (OR: 1.53, 1.03–2.28, p = 0.04), and stress at baseline and during lockdown (OR: 1.15, 1.03–1.29, p = 0.01; OR: 1.10, 1.01–1.19, p = 0.03, respectively). The variables associated with a reduced risk of weight gain were the GPAQ score during lockdown (OR: 0.16, 0.04–0.66, p = 0.01), coffee consumption (OR: 0.36, 0.19–0.67, p = 0.01), and total sleep time (OR: 0.70, 0.51–0.97, p = 0.03). Conclusion While most young Saudi women experienced no weight change during the COVID-19 lockdown, one-third lost weight and a significant proportion gained weight. Factors associated with weight, such as stress, sleep hours, physical activity, and coffee consumption, highlight the need to carefully consider those at risk during future circumstances that may require lockdowns. These factors could also aid in implementing policies for future lockdowns and support those most at risk of gaining weight.

The Importance of Physical Activity to Augment Mood during COVID-19 Lockdown

“…Sedentary behavior and lack of physical activity associated deaths are increasing in adults [30,31]. Because there was a change in lifestyle due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and healthy activities are crucial to preventing disease, it is useful to study how the COVID-19 lockdown affected individual's health-related lifestyle choices (e.g., physical activity) and mental health parameters (e.g., mood) [32].…”

Time-Limited Eating and Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Adolescents with Obesity: A Pilot Study

“…Although we found no between-group difference in weight change, one-third of adolescents in the TLE groups and one-quarter of the control group achieved clinically meaningful weight loss of more than 5% of their baseline weight. One possible explanation for the absence of between-group difference lies in the structured day hypothesis [56][57][58].…”

“…An alternative explanation for the absence of a difference in weight loss across study arms lies in the possible interventional effect of CGM. It is well-documented that wearable technology often results in a short-term weight loss; however, reactive effects are usually short-lived [58,70]. Only one-third of adolescents in the real-time CGM group looked at their data; however, participants' mere knowledge that their glucose was monitored by the study team may have provided accountability, not provided outside the study.…”

COVID-19 Vaccines in Indonesia: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Acceptance Among Dental Professionals

“…For instance, in the economic sector, people have started to use cashless applications for transactions; in the social and education sectors, online platforms have been heavily and forcefully promoted to maintain face-to-face discussion, teaching and learning. In the health sector, the online platforms also have been widely used for webinar, virtual conference, and telemedicine, meanwhile people have adopted healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as wearing masks at all times, physical distancing, supplement consumption, and, ultimately, vaccination to create herd immunity (16,17).…”