Metabolic Impacts of Confinement during the COVID-19 Pandemic Due to Modified Diet and Physical Activity Habits

Abstract

While the detrimental effects of a chronic positive energy balance due to a sedentary lifestyle have been well established, the impacts of a short period of abruptly reduced physical activity and overeating arising from strict confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic will soon start to emerge. To reasonably anticipate major consequences according to the available evidence, we hereby review the literature for studies that have explored the health impacts of several weeks of a reduction in physical activity and daily step-count combined with modified eating habits. These studies identify as main metabolic consequences increases in insulin resistance, total body fat, abdominal fat and inflammatory cytokines. All these factors have been strongly associated with the development of metabolic syndrome, which in turn increases the risk of multiple chronic diseases. A plausible mechanism involved in these impacts could be a positive energy balance promoted by maintaining usual dietary intake while reducing energy expenditure. This means that just as calorie intake restriction could help mitigate the deleterious impacts of a bout of physical inactivity, overeating under conditions of home confinement is very likely to exacerbate these consequences. Moreover, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease have been identified as potential risk factors for more severely ill patients with COVID-19. Thus, adequate control of metabolic disorders could be important to reduce the risk of severe COVID-19.

Dietary and Lifestyle Changes During COVID-19 and the Subsequent Lockdowns among Polish Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey PLifeCOVID-19 Study

“…It should be noted that obesity was one of the most serious global problems defined as pandemic [26] before COVID-19 pandemic. Reduce in PA leads to muscle mass reduction in a few days [27], and as metabolic consequences of a prolonged sedentary lifestyle, increased body weight, including fat mass, and impairment of glycemic control are noted in healthy adults [11,28]. In overweight adults and in the elderly, the consequences are greater, which include lipid profile disturbance and increased inflammation and cardiometabolic risk [11].…”

Lessons learned from the continuous glucose monitoring metrics in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes under COVID-19 lockdown

“…The resultant confinement of people to their homes led to lifestyle changes, including in diet, sleep, and physical activity. Such changes have negative implications on metabolic health [7,8].…”

Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome in the Time of COVID-19: Should We Add a Cup of Coffee?

“…Recent studies explored the health impacts of a prolonged reduction in physical activity and overeating under circumstances of home confinement and found that increased total body fat and elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines appear to be major factors in exacerbation of insulin resistance ( 1 ). Another unhealthy consequence of COVID-19 imposed home confinement is the limited exposure to daily light, which can lead to decreased levels of Vitamin D, essential to perturb viral cellular infection by interacting with ACE2 cell entry receptors ( 37 ).…”

“…As we have just approached the 10 millionth case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) worldwide, an increasing amount of evidence has been accumulating to indicate its poorer prognosis in patients with diabetes and hypertension, who appear to be exposed to the greater risk of the severe morbidity and mortality ( 1 – 3 ). A recent meta-analysis demonstrated that the incidences of diabetes and hypertension were about two-fold higher, and cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases were three-fold higher in severe/intensive care unit (ICU) cases as compared to non-ICU severe cases ( 4 ).…”