Impact of COVID-19 on eating habits, sleeping behaviour and physical activity status of final-year medical students in Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

Objective: The massive increase in COVID-19 cases led to the implementation of nationwide lockdown in Turkey. While enforced lockdown is an effective strategy to abate the transmission of the virus, it causes significant lifestyle changes in every part of the community. This study aims to assess the changes in eating habits, sleeping behaviour, and physical activity status of final year medical students (interns) whose education was suspended during the pandemic. Design: In this cross-sectional epidemiological study, an online questionnaire was created. Interns were asked questions regarding sociodemographic status, eating habits, sleeping behaviour and physical activity status before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in dietary habits and sleep quality were evaluated under the guidance of Turkish Nutrition Guide, Determination of Nutritional Status Report, Turkey National Nutrition and Health Survey and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Setting: Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine-Ankara/Turkey. Participants: Among 536 students, a total of 340 students (63.4%) answered the questionnaire. Results: After the beginning of lockdown, an increase in body mass index (BMI) was observed in both female(p=0.002) and male students(p=0.013). Students having healthy dietary habits increased by 18.8% and unhealthy dietary habits decreased by 3.2% during lockdown(p<0.001). Overall, 63.2% of students reported a decrease in physical activity, and 33.6% reported a reduction in sleep quality whereas 38.6% reported an improvement in sleep quality. There was no significant difference in sleep quality between genders(p=0.075). Conclusions: This study indicated that medical school suspension and enforced lockdown led to significant changes in interns’ eating behaviour, physical activity, and sleeping habits.

Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Dietary Habits of Medical Students of Wroclaw Medical University during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…As shown earlier and confirmed by the results of the research, the situation of the announcement of the pandemic and the lockdown which was its consequence led to a change in the lifestyle of individuals, and increased stress which also affected the quality of sleep. Medical students were a frequently studied group during the COVID-19 epidemic in terms of sleep quality [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ].…”

Nutritional behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: the association of fear and sleep quality with emotional eating

“…al (2021) reported that there was no direct relationship between emotional eating and fear of COVID-19, and the depression has mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and emotional eating during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey [19]. Studies among adults during COVID-19 have indicated that psychological factors and increased stress due to the pandemic may alter eating behaviors and trigger emotional eating [20][21][22]. Additionally, changes in eating behaviors have also been associated with quarantines and fear of catching the virus [23][24][25][26].…”

“…It is known that sleep pattern is a critical determinant of eating behavior in humans. Previous research showed that reduced sleep quality adversely affects both physiological and psychological health by causing poor eating habits [22,37,38]. In addition, studies showed that there was a negative relationship between emotional eating and sleep quality [39][40][41] and that poor sleep quality resulted in increased food intake [41,42].…”

Changes in Diet, Physical Activity, Alcohol Consumption, and Tobacco Use in Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

“…13,28 Other countries that were included in one study were Japan, 9 Lithuania, 12 Canada, 16 Germany, 18 Australia, 21 Finland, 22 Hong Kong, 30 Sweden, 31 Rusia, 35 Thailand, 8 Mexico, 15 Brasil, 19 and Turkey. 23…”