Changes in body weight, nutrition, and physical activity among the Lithuanian students during and after the COVID-19 quarantine

Abstract

Introduction: The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle changes remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess changes in body weight, nutrition, and physical activity among students during and after the COVID-19 quarantine. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among first-year students from the four largest Lithuanian Universities of Applied Sciences during spring 2022. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 1430 respondents (325 males and 1105 females). Students were asked about consumption frequencies of selected foods, physical activity levels, self-reported weight and height, and changes in these parameters during and after quarantine. Body mass index was calculated using self-reported weight and height. Results: The COVID-19 quarantine led to significant shifts in students’ eating habits, characterized by increased snacking, consumption of fast food, homemade confectionery, and sweets, along with an increased reliance on home delivery or takeaway food services. Approximately onethird of students decreased their physical activity. Changes in dietary and physical activity habits during the quarantine were associated with body weight variations. More than a third of students reported weight gain during this period. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, reduced physical activity during the quarantine increased the odds of weight gain by 3.8 times, followed by an increase in the consumption of red meat, snacks, fast food, and homemade confectionery. After the quarantine, 32.3% of males and 22.4% of females were overweight (p<0.05). They were more likely to report weight gain during the quarantine compared to students with normal weight, 52.7% and 34.3%, respectively. Even 40.9% of students who gained weight during the quarantine reported that body weight remained elevated after the quarantine. Approximately half of such students (52.5%) continued to consume snacks frequently. Almost a third of them answered that other unhealthy eating habits, such as the increased amount of food eaten, increased sweets consumption, and home-ordered/takeaway food purchases, remained after quarantine. Reduced physical activity was mentioned by 47.5% of students, whose weight remained elevated, compared to 19.2% of students, whose weight returned to pre-quarantine levels (p<0.05). Conclusion: COVID-19 caused shifts in student lifestyles, leading to weight changes. Post-quarantine, these habits persisted, signaling the importance of continual support for healthier choices among students. Promoting a healthy diet and regular physical activity among students is essential for developing lifelong habits that contribute to healthy body weight and overall well-being.