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Effects of Covid-19 confinement on portuguese adults’ nutrition, physical activity and sleep

2021; Elsevier BV; Volume: 46; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.09.218

2405-4577

Raquel Silva, Teresa Paiva, Caroline de Almeida Reis, Amélia Feliciano, Teresa Valero, Helena Canhão, Margarida Gaspar de Matos, Cristina Pereira, Ana Teresa Raposo Carreiro, Anderson Lino, Sandra Maria do Nascimento Moreira, Ana Bernarda, Susana Gaspar, Lúcia Ramiro, Jorge Manuel Rios da Fonseca, G. Videira,

Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors

Rationale: The global pandemic caused by the coronavirus-disease (COVID-19) has made profound changes in people's daily lives, especially during the confinement period. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize nutritional status, food habits, physical activity and sleep of Portuguese adults during the first COVID-19 confinement and to analyze its association with changes in the aforementioned factors. Methods: An online survey during the first COVID-19 wave in Portugal was applied (through the Survey Legend) to 5479 Portuguese adults (48.4±14.2 years old; 25.9±5.1kg/m2). It collected data from several areas of the individual's life, but only a small part and more related to nutrition was used for this purpose, such as: sociodemographic, confinement characteristics, nutrition (using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire), physical activity (intensity and frequency), sleep duration and sleep latency on weekdays and weekends, and sleep quality. Nutrition included daily meals and scores for the recommended intake frequencies were calculated (Paiva et al., 2021). Data were analysed using SPSS, version 25.0. The significance level was 5% (P<0.05). Results: Participants were on average 41.1±26.9 days in lockdown, consumed 3.6±0.7 daily meals and reported 1.7±1.7 of morbidities. The majority lived in a city (66.3%) and was physically inactive (73.9%). The physical activity practiced was mainly of light and moderate intensities (23% and 27%, respectively). Significant differences were observed between pre- and during confinement caused by the pandemic (P<0.01) as follows: a decrease of the number of meals, physical activity, sleep duration on weekdays and weekends and sleep quality and an increase of weight, body mass index, alcohol consumption, sleep latency and awakenings on weekdays and weekends. In addition, the intake of processed and pre-confectioned foods, deserts, chocolates, cakes and biscuits, gums and candies, and soft drinks was significantly higher than the recommendations; however, the consumption of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products, meat/fish/chicken, eggs and bread/potatoes/rice/pasta was significantly lower than the recommended. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic and consequently, the confinement negatively affected Portuguese adults with consequences upon to their nutritional status, physical activity, food habits and sleep. Therefore, it is important to promote the awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle through a good nutrition with adequate meals and food choices, practice physical exercise and sleep well. References: Paiva T et al. Sleep and Awakening Quality during COVID-19 Confinement: Complexity and Relevance for Health and Behavior. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(7):3506. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073506 Disclosure of Interest: None declared.