Lifestyle Variations during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study of Diet, Physical Activities, and Weight Gain among the Jordanian Adult Population

Abstract

The way that COVID-19 has been handled since its inception in 2019 has had a significant impact on lifestyle-related behaviors, such as physical activities, diet, and sleep patterns. This study measures lifestyle-related behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown using a 22-item questionnaire. The responses were collected from March 2021 to September 2021. A total of four hundred and sixty-seven Jordanian participants were engaged in assessing the changes caused by the pandemic and their effect on BMI. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were tested for 71 participants. Cronbach’s alpha values for the questionnaire exceeded 0.7, demonstrating good reliability and internal consistency. The effect of each question regarding physical activity and dietary habits over the BMI difference was studied using ANOVA. The study shows that more than half of the participants reported snacking more between meals and increased their sitting and screen time, while 74% felt more stressed and anxious. BMI difference among the individuals throughout the lockdown was significantly associated with these variables. In contrast, 62% of the participants showed more awareness about their health by increasing the intake of immunity-boosting foods, and 56% of the participants showed an increase in the consumption of nutrition supplements. Females and married individuals tended to be healthier. Therefore, their BMI showed stability compared to others based on their gender and marital status. Exercise, sleep, and avoiding ‘junk’ food, which contributes to weight gain and COVID-19 vulnerability, are strongly recommended.

COVID-Inconfidentes: how did COVID-19 and work from home influence the prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity? An analysis of before and during the pandemic

“…Although the results of our study cannot demonstrate causal relationships, it is well-established in the literature that participating in PA prevents obesity and metabolic diseases arising from overweight status [ 40 , 45 , 46 ]. These findings are alarming and require the implementation of actions and public policies to encourage PA engagement, as the restrictions imposed to mitigate the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 contributed to weight gain in the population [ 47 – 49 ] and, in the current scenario, the control of overweight status or obesity becomes more challenging. Moreover, the high prevalence of overweight status and obesity, along with reduction in PA practice during the pandemic, increases vulnerability to several diseases, including COVID-19, leading to increased costs and a possible crisis in the health care system [ 50 , 51 ].…”

Factors That Influence the Use of Dietary Supplements among the Students of Wroclaw Medical University in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Of great note are some sociodemographic factors (e.g., age, gender, diet, lifestyle, income, or educational level) [ 14 , 15 ]. Additionally, some reports suggest an increase in awareness about health and increased intake of not only nutritional supplements, but also immunity-boosting food [ 16 ].…”

Effect of Housing Quality on the Mental Health of University Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown

“…In particular, before the important scientific advances in vaccine research, lockdown measures were adopted to restrict population movements and curb the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread. Such measures started in China in January 2020 and rapidly expanded to Europe, the Middle East, the USA, and the rest of the world, impacting lifestyle habits [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Italy, one of the first and hardest hit regions in Europe during the first COVID-19 wave, extended lockdown measures to the national territory starting from 11 March 2020 and released them only at the beginning of May 2020 [ 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”