Pandemic and the widespread adoption of virus control measures have inevitably disrupted efforts to address lifestyle risk factors for non-communicable diseases. There was a significant decline in physical and other meaningful activities, including activities of daily living, leisure, social activity, and education. However, there were no significant changes in nutrition, except in the consumption of carbohydrates and minerals. Participants reported that their quality of life and mental health had decreased after the pandemic struck.
While social physical distance practices are important to prevent the collapse of the health system, they also affect interpersonal relationships and many aspects of everyday life, including dietary and lifestyle habits of individuals, families, and populations. The pandemic now is far from being controlled and according to experts from the WHO and other institutions, we will not avoid future ones. As a result of this scenario, it is expected that physical and psychological consequences will last for a long time after the COVID-19 pandemics crisis.
Participants completed an anonymous online questionnaire comprised of six validated tools regarding the following lifestyle behaviours before and during lockdown: adherence to the Mediterranean diet, physical activity, stress and social support levels, sleep pattern and use of risky substances such as smoking and alcohol. Paired before and during lockdown comparisons for each lifestyle pillar were undertaken using Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test and Bowker symmetry Test where response was numerical and categorical respectively. Furthermore, stratified analyses for sociodemographic characteristics were performed.
Understanding the effects of the pandemic on lifestyle habits can guide behavioral and psychological measures, directed at individuals and communities, improving resilience, preventing diseases, and increasing the effectiveness of health approaches to mitigate the effects during this contingency and in others that could potentially occur. Therefore, we aimed to assess changes in dietary and lifestyle habits due to COVID-19-induced confinement in different Ibero-American countries.
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There is a lack of evidence that evaluates the effect of COVID-19 on lifestyle-related behaviours in India. It is important to investigate some key questions such as which lifestyle behaviours are most affected, how severe is the impact of COVID-19 on these behaviours, what are the reasons for these changes and which demographic section is the most impacted. Considering these questions, we undertook this study to evaluate the overall impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle changes experienced by individuals during the pandemic. The answers to these questions will establish a fundamental basis to develop appropriate recommendations for lifestyle modifications during this time.
A total of 1058 responses were collected using the Google Form link and telephonic survey, after excluding responses that met exclusion criteria such as younger participants (age <18 years), duplicates and invalid entries. The final data included 995 participants.Participants completed an anonymous online questionnaire comprised of six validated tools regarding the following lifestyle behaviours before and during lockdown: adherence to the Mediterranean diet, physical activity, stress and social support levels, sleep pattern and use of risky substances such as smoking and alcohol.Lifestyle factors were adversely affected by the COVID-19 lockdown in Cyprus. Evidence from this study supports development of holistic lifestyle interventions during and following the pandemic to reduce short and long-term NCD risks by building on lifestyle behaviour strengths and addressing longstanding and emerging gaps and needs.
