- Department of Health Australia
- Stanford University School of Medicine United States
- University of Oxford United Kingdom
- University of Twente
- University of Ulm Germany
- Standford University School of Medicine
- University of Waterloo Canada
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Germany
- Department of Health Philippines
- CY Cergy Paris University France
- American University in the Emirates United Arab Emirates
- University of Paris France
- Université Paris Diderot France
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres Germany
- University of Genoa Italy
- Loughborough University United Kingdom
- University of Arkansas at Fayetteville United States
- Assiut University Egypt
- University of St Andrews United Kingdom
- University Medical Center Groningen Netherlands
- Stanford University School of Medicine United States
- University of Jordan Jordan
- Basque Government Spain
- Department of Health Taiwan
- Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Italy
- University Medical Center Göttingen
- Department of Health United Kingdom
- Imam Khomeini International University Iran (Islamic Republic of)
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Germany
- University of Porto Portugal
- Department of Health Ireland
- Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg
- Università degli Studi di Genova
- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Ireland
- Drexel University United States
- University Medical Center Gottingen
- Department of Health China (People's Republic of)
- University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)
- Universitätsmedizin Göttingen Germany
- Department of Health Spain
- Yarmouk University Jordan
- Georgia Southern University United States
- Digital Research Centre of Sfax Tunisia
- Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg Germany
- Government of Ireland Ireland
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
- University of Twente Netherlands
- College of Business Administration Latvia
- National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse France
- University Medical Center Groningen
- University of Sfax Tunisia
- Department of Health South Africa
- Stanford University United States
- UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA Italy
- Department of Health (Ireland)
AbstractBackgroundPublic health recommendations and governmental measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have enforced numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on health behaviours and lifestyle at home is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020 in seven languages to elucidate the behavioral and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the preliminary results from the first thousand responders on physical activity (PA) and nutrition behaviours.MethodsThirty-five research organisations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, in English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portugese, and Slovenian languages. Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses “before” and “during” confinement conditions.Results1047 replies (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other (3%) were included into a general analysis. The COVID-19 home confinement had a negative effect on all intensities of PA (vigorous, moderate, walking and overall). Conversely, daily sitting time increased from 5 to 8 hours per day. Additionally, food consumption and meal patterns (the type of food, eating out of control, snacks between meals, number of meals) were more unhealthy during confinement with only alcohol binge drink decreasing significantly.ConclusionWhile isolation is a necessary measure to protect public health, our results indicate that it alters physical activity and eating behaviours in a direction that would compromise health. A more detailed analysis of survey data will allow for a segregation of these responses in different age groups, countries and other subgroups which will help develop bespoke interventions to mitigate the negative lifestyle behaviors manifest during the COVID-19 confinement.