Abstract:

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the study was to understand the effects of demographic factors, changes in food consumption, sleep patterns, and physical activities on body weight in individuals restricted by social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Türkiye. Material and Methods: A total of 699 healthy adults under partial quarantine conditions in Türkiye participated in the study. This cross-sectional study inquired about the sociodemographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements of the individuals during the pandemic, as well as changes in their dietary habits and physical activities compared to the pre-pandemic period. Participants’ sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results: It was found that food consumption increased in 53.8% of the participants (n=376), physical activity decreased in 77.1% (n=539), and body weight increased in 44.5% (n=311). Logistic regression analysis for individuals with increased body weight indicated that poor sleep quality was associated with weight gain (OR=1.469, 95% CI=[1.012-2.133] P<0.05), as was female gender (OR=2.376, 95% CI=[1.486-3.800] P<0.001). Similarly, being overweight or obese was related to an increased risk of weight gain (OR=2.413, 95% CI=[1.514-3.847] P<0.001) and (OR=2.545, 95% CI=[1.311-4.938] P=0.006), respectively. Conclusion: Changes in dietary habits, sleep patterns, and physical activities during the social isolation period due to the COVID-19 pandemic were found to significantly affect body weight. There is a need for large-scale, randomized studies to explore the interaction between lifestyle changes, sleep quality, dietary habits, and obesity during pandemic periods.

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