The impact of COVID-19 quarantine on dietary habits and physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has forced governments around the world to impose strict hygiene and national lockdown measures, which in turn has changed the dietary and lifestyle habits of the world’s population. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether dietary and physical act...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11540-y |
| _version_ | 1818368059706966016 |
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| author | Manar Abduljalil Bakhsh Jomana Khawandanah Rouba Khalil Naaman Shoug Alashmali |
| author_facet | Manar Abduljalil Bakhsh Jomana Khawandanah Rouba Khalil Naaman Shoug Alashmali |
| author_sort | Manar Abduljalil Bakhsh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has forced governments around the world to impose strict hygiene and national lockdown measures, which in turn has changed the dietary and lifestyle habits of the world’s population. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether dietary and physical activity behaviors of Saudi Arabia’s adult population changed during the COVID-19 quarantine. Methods An electronic questionnaire which assessed changes in body weight, dietary habits, and physical activity of Saudi Arabia’s adult population (n = 2255) during the COVID-19 quarantine was distributed on social media between June and July 2020. To test the differences between changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors in relation to changes in body weight a Chi-square test was used. Results Over 40 and 45% of participants reported eating and snacking more, respectively, which led to weight gain in around 28%. Most participants reported that they consumed home-cooked (73%) and healthy meals (47%), while only 7% reported that they consumed foods from restaurants. Feelings of boredom and emptiness (44%) and the availability of time for preparing meals (40%) were the main reasons for changing dietary habits. Honey (43%) and vitamin C (50%) were the most consumed immune-boosting food and dietary supplement, respectively. COVID-19 also had a negative impact on physical activity, lowering the practice in 52% subjects, which was associated with significant weight gain (p < 0.001). Conclusion Assessing the changes to the population’s dietary habits and physical activity during the lockdown will help predict the outcome of the population’s future health and wellbeing after the pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T23:01:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-715083b5edf8454889038bc2ad7938fa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T23:01:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-715083b5edf8454889038bc2ad7938fa2022-12-21T23:28:22ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-07-0121111010.1186/s12889-021-11540-yThe impact of COVID-19 quarantine on dietary habits and physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional studyManar Abduljalil Bakhsh0Jomana Khawandanah1Rouba Khalil Naaman2Shoug Alashmali3Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz UniversityClinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz UniversityClinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz UniversityClinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz UniversityAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has forced governments around the world to impose strict hygiene and national lockdown measures, which in turn has changed the dietary and lifestyle habits of the world’s population. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether dietary and physical activity behaviors of Saudi Arabia’s adult population changed during the COVID-19 quarantine. Methods An electronic questionnaire which assessed changes in body weight, dietary habits, and physical activity of Saudi Arabia’s adult population (n = 2255) during the COVID-19 quarantine was distributed on social media between June and July 2020. To test the differences between changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors in relation to changes in body weight a Chi-square test was used. Results Over 40 and 45% of participants reported eating and snacking more, respectively, which led to weight gain in around 28%. Most participants reported that they consumed home-cooked (73%) and healthy meals (47%), while only 7% reported that they consumed foods from restaurants. Feelings of boredom and emptiness (44%) and the availability of time for preparing meals (40%) were the main reasons for changing dietary habits. Honey (43%) and vitamin C (50%) were the most consumed immune-boosting food and dietary supplement, respectively. COVID-19 also had a negative impact on physical activity, lowering the practice in 52% subjects, which was associated with significant weight gain (p < 0.001). Conclusion Assessing the changes to the population’s dietary habits and physical activity during the lockdown will help predict the outcome of the population’s future health and wellbeing after the pandemic.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11540-yCOVID-19Dietary habitsNutritionPhysical activityQuarantineWeight change |
| spellingShingle | Manar Abduljalil Bakhsh Jomana Khawandanah Rouba Khalil Naaman Shoug Alashmali The impact of COVID-19 quarantine on dietary habits and physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study BMC Public Health COVID-19 Dietary habits Nutrition Physical activity Quarantine Weight change |
| title | The impact of COVID-19 quarantine on dietary habits and physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | The impact of COVID-19 quarantine on dietary habits and physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | The impact of COVID-19 quarantine on dietary habits and physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of COVID-19 quarantine on dietary habits and physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | The impact of COVID-19 quarantine on dietary habits and physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | impact of covid 19 quarantine on dietary habits and physical activity in saudi arabia a cross sectional study |
| topic | COVID-19 Dietary habits Nutrition Physical activity Quarantine Weight change |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11540-y |
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