Changes in Body Mass, Physical Activity, and Dietary Intake during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns in Canadian University Students
This study examined changes in body mass and body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and dietary intake in Canadian university students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two self-reported recall surveys were conducted: after the first lockdown in September 2020 (T1) and following the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/2/326 |
| _version_ | 1797622185161916416 |
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| author | Madison Bell Markus J. Duncan Karen A. Patte Brian D. Roy David S. Ditor Panagiota Klentrou |
| author_facet | Madison Bell Markus J. Duncan Karen A. Patte Brian D. Roy David S. Ditor Panagiota Klentrou |
| author_sort | Madison Bell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examined changes in body mass and body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and dietary intake in Canadian university students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two self-reported recall surveys were conducted: after the first lockdown in September 2020 (T1) and following the second lockdown in March 2021 (T2). Eligible participants were full-time undergraduate students attending a Canadian university and residing in Canada during the first year of the pandemic. At T1, 510 students (99 male, 411 female) completed the survey, and of those, 135 (32 males, 103 females) completed the survey at T2 (73% attrition). At both T1 and T2, most participants were 18–24 years of age (93% and 90%, respectively), Caucasian (73% and 78%, respectively), and resided in the province of Ontario (79% and 80%, respectively). Body mass increased from T1 to T2 (+0.91 ± 3.89 kg <i>t</i>(132) = −2.7, <i>p</i> = 0.008). BMI also increased from T1 to T2 (+0.30 ± 1.33 kg/m<sup>2</sup> [<i>t</i>(130) = −2.5, <i>p</i> = 0.012), with a greater number of participants within the overweight range (19.8% versus 24.4%, respectively). At T1, 38% of the participants reported a decrease in physical activity, while the number of students reporting a decrease in activity increased to 56% at T2. Dietary energy intake decreased from 1678 ± 958 kcal/day at T1 to 1565 ± 842 kcal/day at T2 [c<sup>2</sup>(1) = 7.2, <i>p</i> = 0.007]. Diet quality also decreased, with participants not meeting the recommended daily allowance for essential macro and micronutrients. A decrease was observed in daily servings of fruits (−27%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), vegetables (−72%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and grains (−68%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In conclusion, despite a small decrease in dietary energy intake, a modest weight gain occurred during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in this cohort of Canadian university students, which was potentially related to decreased physical activity and diet quality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:07:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ede67647a184af7b049c77499f8415f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:07:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ede67647a184af7b049c77499f8415f2023-11-16T19:14:52ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372023-02-0112232610.3390/biology12020326Changes in Body Mass, Physical Activity, and Dietary Intake during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns in Canadian University StudentsMadison Bell0Markus J. Duncan1Karen A. Patte2Brian D. Roy3David S. Ditor4Panagiota Klentrou5Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, CanadaChildren’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, CanadaDepartment of Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, CanadaThis study examined changes in body mass and body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and dietary intake in Canadian university students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two self-reported recall surveys were conducted: after the first lockdown in September 2020 (T1) and following the second lockdown in March 2021 (T2). Eligible participants were full-time undergraduate students attending a Canadian university and residing in Canada during the first year of the pandemic. At T1, 510 students (99 male, 411 female) completed the survey, and of those, 135 (32 males, 103 females) completed the survey at T2 (73% attrition). At both T1 and T2, most participants were 18–24 years of age (93% and 90%, respectively), Caucasian (73% and 78%, respectively), and resided in the province of Ontario (79% and 80%, respectively). Body mass increased from T1 to T2 (+0.91 ± 3.89 kg <i>t</i>(132) = −2.7, <i>p</i> = 0.008). BMI also increased from T1 to T2 (+0.30 ± 1.33 kg/m<sup>2</sup> [<i>t</i>(130) = −2.5, <i>p</i> = 0.012), with a greater number of participants within the overweight range (19.8% versus 24.4%, respectively). At T1, 38% of the participants reported a decrease in physical activity, while the number of students reporting a decrease in activity increased to 56% at T2. Dietary energy intake decreased from 1678 ± 958 kcal/day at T1 to 1565 ± 842 kcal/day at T2 [c<sup>2</sup>(1) = 7.2, <i>p</i> = 0.007]. Diet quality also decreased, with participants not meeting the recommended daily allowance for essential macro and micronutrients. A decrease was observed in daily servings of fruits (−27%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), vegetables (−72%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and grains (−68%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In conclusion, despite a small decrease in dietary energy intake, a modest weight gain occurred during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in this cohort of Canadian university students, which was potentially related to decreased physical activity and diet quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/2/326COVID-19university studentsbody mass indexphysical activitycaloric intakemacronutrient intake |
| spellingShingle | Madison Bell Markus J. Duncan Karen A. Patte Brian D. Roy David S. Ditor Panagiota Klentrou Changes in Body Mass, Physical Activity, and Dietary Intake during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns in Canadian University Students Biology COVID-19 university students body mass index physical activity caloric intake macronutrient intake |
| title | Changes in Body Mass, Physical Activity, and Dietary Intake during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns in Canadian University Students |
| title_full | Changes in Body Mass, Physical Activity, and Dietary Intake during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns in Canadian University Students |
| title_fullStr | Changes in Body Mass, Physical Activity, and Dietary Intake during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns in Canadian University Students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in Body Mass, Physical Activity, and Dietary Intake during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns in Canadian University Students |
| title_short | Changes in Body Mass, Physical Activity, and Dietary Intake during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns in Canadian University Students |
| title_sort | changes in body mass physical activity and dietary intake during the covid 19 pandemic lockdowns in canadian university students |
| topic | COVID-19 university students body mass index physical activity caloric intake macronutrient intake |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/2/326 |
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