Poor eating habits and predictors of weight gain during the COVID-19 quarantine measures in Kuwait: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Despite the public health importance of documenting the burden of physical inactivity and weight gain, there is a paucity of such data in Kuwait during the lockdown for Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, this survey was designed to estimate: the burden of poor eating habits particularly binge eating habits, fluctuations in weight and its predictors among the Kuwaiti public. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted from 2nd to 12th April 2020 among the general public in Kuwait. All data were collected through a social media platform (WhatsApp groups), through convenience and snowball sampling methods. The survey comprised three sections: a) demographic characteristics of respondents, b) eating habits particularly binge eating, consumption of snacks and beverages c) subjective feelings of anxiety and d) weight before and during the pandemic. All data were analyzed using SPSS (v.25). Results: There was a total of 522 valid respondents, with a mean age of 41.78 (11.75) years. There was a significant increase in weight of respondents during the quarantine (mean difference= -1.13, SD 5.39, t= -4.52, p < 0.001). Those with reporting unhealthy diets were 4.5 times more likely to report an increase in weight. Those reporting having anxiety throughout the day were 2.45 times more likely and those consuming snacks excessively were associated with 3.27 times higher odds of increase in weight than those not consuming it. Conclusions: We recommend that authorities develop a strategic plan to counter harmful effects of this pandemic on health that are originating from sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating patterns and psychological issues.

The Impact of Lockdown During the COVID-19 Outbreak on Dietary Habits in Various Population Groups: A Scoping Review

“…Seventeen studies were cross-sectional in nature (7-10, 13, 15-17, 19, 21-27, 29), and three cohort (12,14,18), one observational (20), one correlational (28), and one panel study (11) were included. Locations included global (9, 25), the US (10,18,28), Asia including Palestine (7), India (8,15,17), and China (29), Europe including Italy (11,13,20,22,26), France (12), Spain (23,24), Poland (27), and the UK (19), Australia (14,21), and Zimbabwe (16). The age range and total number of participants were not presented as these demographics were not stated in all the studies included in the review.…”

“…Snacking A significant change in snacking frequency and behaviors was reported by a total of nine studies that were reviewed (8,9,12,14,15,20,(26)(27)(28)30). ALMughanis et al (8) reported an increase in snacking at night in 44% of participants. This trend was supported by three other studies that found that increased snacking behaviors were typically seen at night or after the last meal of the day (9,15,28).…”

“…Similarly, Rodriguez-Perez et al (23) showed that while people's dietary pattern did not dramatically deviate from the MedDiet during lockdown, over 59.6% decreased their levels of physical activity. Three papers (7,8,12) showed that at least 50% of people surveyed had decreased levels of exercise in Kuwait, Palestine, and France due to confinement. An Australian study by Phillipou et al (21) reported that in the general population group the majority of people (43.4%) decreased their exercise levels, which may be related to working from home and restrictions on sporting activities and gym closures during the peak of the pandemic.…”

Have Lifestyle Habits and Psychological Well-Being Changed among Adolescents and Medical Students Due to COVID-19 Lockdown in Croatia?

“…Healthy eating and food choices during adolescence are important for supporting growth and for preventing future health problems in adult life [ 48 ]. Young people following an unhealthy diet have higher odds of weight increase [ 49 , 50 , 51 ], with plethora of possible negative health outcomes. A study conducted among Turkish freshman university students aged between 18 and 22 years has shown that students with obesity had lower awareness of CVD risk factors than normal-weight ones, while subjects with a family member with CVD as well as non-smokers were more aware of the importance of dietary factors in CVD development [ 52 ].…”

“…The results of studies conducted so far on the physical activity and COVID-19 lockdown relationship are contradictory, showing either an increase of sedentariness [ 6 , 51 , 60 , 61 , 62 ], or a decrease [ 63 ]. Our results indicated that 41% of students surveyed in 2020 were active a few times a week, while additional 24% were active every day during lockdown.…”