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Lockdown and its impact on food and exercise study
Amrutha Varshini Vimalraj1, Neethu George2, Vivek Sundaram3, M Anbarasi4, R Manoranjitham5, Vimalraj Bogana Shanmugam6
1 1st Year MBBS Student, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Department of Community Medicine, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India
3 Critical Care Physician, Sundaram Hospital, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
4 Department of Physiology, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India
5 Department of Anatomy, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India
6 Department of Cardiology, Senior Consultant and Interventional Cardiologist, Sundaram Hospital, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
Correspondence Address:
Amrutha Varshini Vimalraj
6/15 Thiruthanthoni Road, Woraiyur, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/amit.amit_61_21
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Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had enforced several restrictions which were necessary to abate the spread of the virus, however, the blow of these limitations on health behaviors and lifestyles remains vague. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the behavioral and lifestyle consequences of complete lockdown during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: The Lockdown and its Impact on Food and Exercise study was a pilot study conducted in the form of a questionnaire which was handed out to the public and circulated electronically. The questions regarding exercise were adapted from the International physical activity questionnaire and those regarding food habits were taken from the Public Library of Science and the Self-regulation of Eating Behavior Questionnaire. This survey was conducted from March 28 to April 14, 2020, during which a complete lockdown prevailed. Results: The COVID-19 complete lockdown had a negative impact on all intensity exercise levels, vigorous exercise (64.34% vs. 41.20%, P ≤ 0.00001), moderate exercise (95.67% vs. 84.57%, P ≤ 0.00001), and walking (55.42% vs. 42.89%, P = 0.0003). Food consumption and meal patterns (58.55% vs. 47.95%, P = 0.0022) were also more unhealthy (78.60% vs. 87.94%, P = 0.0096) during complete lockdown with only the consumption of late night snack decreasing significantly. Conclusion: The results of this analysis indicate that physical activity had decreased significantly and eating behaviors were unhealthy. Hence, our survey will help to develop interventions which would potentially alleviate these negative lifestyle and nutrition behaviors.
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