Weight‐related lifestyle behaviors and the COVID‐19 crisis: An online survey study of UK adults during social lockdown



Robinson, E ORCID: 0000-0003-3586-5533, Gillespie, SM ORCID: 0000-0001-7789-5381 and Jones, A
(2020) Weight‐related lifestyle behaviors and the COVID‐19 crisis: An online survey study of UK adults during social lockdown. Obesity Science & Practice, 6 (6). pp. 735-740.

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Abstract

Background The COVID‐19 crisis is likely to have had wide‐ranging consequences on lifestyle behaviours and may have affected weight management. The objective of the present study was to examine perceptions of how weight‐related lifestyle changed in social lockdown among UK adults compared with before the emergence of the COVID‐19 crisis. Methods As part of an online cross‐sectional survey conducted during social lockdown in the United Kingdom, 723 UK adults reported on the extent to which their eating (healthiness of diet, frequency of bingeing on food), physical activity, sleep and alcohol consumption had changed since the emergence of the COVID‐19 crisis and completed measures of current psychological well‐being. Results Although both improvements and declines in weight gain protective behaviours were reported, 79% of participants reported a decline in one or more weight gain protective behaviours. Both participants with a diagnosis of psychiatric illness or obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30) were most likely to report declines in weight gain protective behaviours and show an overall profile of weight management behaviours worsening. Participants experiencing high levels of stress also reported reductions in more weight gain protective behaviours. Conclusions Lifestyle behaviours associated with weight gain are likely to have been affected by the COVID‐19 crisis. Reductions to the perceived frequency by which people engage in behaviours usually associated with successful weight management appear to be common, and people living with obesity and mental health problems may be at increased risk.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: COVID-19, lifestyle behaviours, obesity, weight management
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 12 Aug 2020 09:30
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 23:37
DOI: 10.1002/osp4.442
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.442
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3097267