Persistent effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on diet, exercise, risk for food insecurity, and quality of life: A longitudinal study among U.S. adults

Rogers, Alexandra M.; Lauren, Brianna N.; Baidal, Jennifer A. Woo; Ozanne, Elissa M.; Hur, Chin

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2021.105639

Cited by 25 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, there is currently little literature observing changes in PA behavior over a longer period including subsequent waves of COVID-19 restrictions. Rogers et al ( 99 ) analyzed data from April and November 2020 to survey how COVID-19 affected exercise patterns in American adults. In November, the frequency of exercise in participants had not changed from exercise levels in April ( 99 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Activity Behavior During and After COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Orders—A Longitudinal Study in the Austrian, German, and Italian Alps

Schöttl

Schnitzer

Savoia³

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundIn Alpine regions, which are very similar due to their topographical location and their wide-ranging sports offerings, the restrictions on sports activities during the COVID-19 pandemic differed in type and level: while in some regions (Tyrol, South Tyrol, Trentino), all sports activities were forbidden except for walking near the home, in other regions (Upper Bavaria, Vorarlberg), people were allowed to go hiking and running during the first lockdown.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the change in physical activity (PA) behavior in different Alpine regions (Upper Bavaria, Vorarlberg, Tyrol, South Tyrol, Trentino) over four periods in 2020, to examine the effects of COVID-19 measures of varying severity on PA behavior and to identify factors associated with a change in PA over time.MethodsA retrospective online survey was conducted (N = 2975) from December 2020, to January 2021. Using the questionnaire of the Eurobarometer 472 study, PA behavior was measured over four periods: before COVID-19 (March), during the first lockdown (March and April), during the relaxed period (May-October) and during the second lockdown (November and December) in 2020.ResultsDuring the first (M = 5.0h, SD = 4.5) and the second lockdowns (M = 4.9h, SD = 4.3), the participants (age: 42 years, overly active in sports) engaged less in sports than before (M = 5.9h, SD = 4.8) and during the relaxed period in summer (M = 6.4h, SD = 5.0) (average number of hours per week being physically active). A larger percentage of participants from Alpine regions with severe restrictions (Tyrol, South Tyrol, Trentino) decreased their PA during the first lockdown as compared to participants from Upper Bavaria and Vorarlberg with a less strict first lockdown. Those with psychological distress, male participants, and individuals with decreased physical health and less free time during COVID-19 were more likely to reduce their PA.ConclusionsDespite a short-term negative effect of COVID-19 restrictions on exercise participation during lockdowns, the majority of respondents returned to their original levels of PA during the relaxed COVID-19 phases. As a comparison of Alpine regions shows, particularly severe COVID-19 measures seem to have reduced PA with potential negative health effects. For the future, policy makers and sports organizations should collaborate to support the population in their PA behavior during pandemics to outweigh restrictions.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Activity Behavior During and After COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Orders—A Longitudinal Study in the Austrian, German, and Italian Alps

Schöttl

Schnitzer

Savoia³

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This trend aligns with evidence from most other studies. For example, a longitudinal study conducted nationally found a reduced risk of food insecurity in November 2020 compared with March/April 2020 [ 23 ]. Adams et al (2021) conducted surveys of a cohort of U.S. households with children in May and September 2020, finding that food insecurity increased in May 2020 compared with before the pandemic and then decreased in September 2020, but food insecurity remained above pre-pandemic levels [ 20 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A number of peer-reviewed studies demonstrated increased food insecurity in the United States during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic [ 20 , 21 , 22 ], but only a few studies have used a cohort model to examine changes in food security throughout the pandemic [ 20 , 23 ]. In the time since the data were collected in these early reports on food insecurity, new policies were implemented to provide economic relief to American households (e.g., stimulus checks, expansion of unemployment insurance, increased flexibility in federal food assistance programs, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food Security Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Evidence from a Cohort of Adults in Vermont during the First Year

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study assessed changes in household food insecurity throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in a cohort of adults in the state of Vermont, USA, and examined the socio-demographic characteristics associated with increased odds of experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic. We conducted three online surveys between March 2020 and March 2021 to collect longitudinal data on food security, use of food assistance programs, and job disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Food security was measured using the USDA six-item module. Among the 441 respondents, food insecurity rates increased significantly during the pandemic and remained above pre-pandemic levels a year after the start of the pandemic. Nearly a third (31.6%) of respondents experienced food insecurity at some point during the first year of the pandemic, with 53.1% of food-insecure households being classified as newly food-insecure. The odds of experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic varied based on socio-demographic factors. Households with children (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.782–16.936, p < 0.01), women (OR 8.1, 95% CI 1.777–36.647, p < 0.05), BIPOC/Hispanic respondents (OR 11.8, 95% CI 1.615–85.805, p < 0.05), and households experiencing a job disruption (OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.583–16.005, p <0.01) had significantly higher odds of experiencing food insecurity during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, while respondents with a college degree (OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.025–0.246; p < 0.001) and household income of ≥USD 50,000 (OR 0.01; 95% CI 0.003–0.038; p < 0.001) had lower odds of experiencing food insecurity. These findings indicate that food insecurity continued to be a significant challenge one year after the start of the pandemic, which is important, given the adverse health impacts associated with food insecurity and health disparities among certain socio-demographic groups.

show abstract

“…While other research has suggested that the negative impacts of home-working on diet and physical activity may subside as individuals get accustomed to these work-related changes (e.g. Rogers et al 2021), efforts should be made to support individuals in establishing healthier habits while working from home, particularly those individuals that may be balancing efforts to maintain such habits while attending to their other health needs. The disproportionate self-reported negative health impacts of home-working on those with poorer health are of particular concern when considering the fact that working from home is associated with increased sickness presenteeism (Karanikas and Cauchi 2020;Steidelmüller et al 2020), which holds the potential to worsen existing health problems.…”

Section: Identifying and Supporting The Health Impacts Of Home-workingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the health impacts and inequalities of the new way of working: findings from a cross-sectional study

Griffiths

Gray

Kyle

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aim To explore the working Welsh adult population's ability to work from home, their preferences for the future, and the self-reported health impacts of home-working. Subject and Method: A nationally-representative household survey was undertaken across Wales (Public Health Wales' COVID-19, Employment and Health in Wales study), with cross-sectional data on home-working being collected between November 2020 and January 2021 from 615 employed working-aged adults in Wales (63.7% female, 32.7% aged 50-59). Respondents were asked about their ability to work from home, their perceptions of its impact on their health and their preferences for time spent home-working in future. Results Over 50% were able to work from home, and showed a preference towards home-working to some capacity, with over a third wishing to work from home at least half the time. However, those living in the most deprived areas, in atypical employment, with high wage precarity or with limiting pre-existing conditions were less likely to report being able to work from home. Of those that could work from home, over 40% reported that it worsened their mental well-being and loneliness, and for people in poorer health, home-working negatively impacted their diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol use. People aged 30 to 39 and those who lived alone were more likely to report wanting to spend some time working in an office/base instead of at home. Conclusion The inequity in the ability to work from home reflects underlying inequalities in Wales, with those facing the greatest insecurity (e.g. those living in most deprived areas, those with more precarious work or financial circumstances) being less able to participate in home-working. Working from home offers greater flexibility, reduces the financial and time costs associated with commuting, and protects individuals from exposure to communicable diseases. However, working from home presents an enormous challenge to preserving the mental-wellbeing of the workforce, particularly for younger individuals and those with low mental well-being. Younger respondents and those in poorer health who could work from home were also more likely to engage in health-harming behaviours, and reduce their engagement in health-protective behaviours such as eating well and moving more. Reflecting on the future, providing pathways for accessing work from home arrangements, integrating hybrid models and preparing targeted health support for at risk groups may be best suited to the working population's preferences and needs.

show abstract

Persistent effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on diet, exercise, risk for food insecurity, and quality of life: A longitudinal study among U.S. adults

Cited by 25 publications

References 28 publications

Physical Activity Behavior During and After COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Orders—A Longitudinal Study in the Austrian, German, and Italian Alps

Physical Activity Behavior During and After COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Orders—A Longitudinal Study in the Austrian, German, and Italian Alps

Food Security Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Evidence from a Cohort of Adults in Vermont during the First Year

Exploring the health impacts and inequalities of the new way of working: findings from a cross-sectional study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About