key: cord-0863659-0p4rbnzx
authors: Ramachandran, Divya; Gill, Timothy
title: Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on self-managed weight loss journeys
date: 2020-08-07
journal: Obes Res Clin Pract
DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2020.08.001
sha: 37d825e39333ae5a34b1934bde912a7ab53c581f
doc_id: 863659
cord_uid: 0p4rbnzx

nan

Between mid-January and mid-March 2020, we had recruited participants to a 12week online follow-up survey study in self-managed weight loss. Due to the disruption caused by Covid-19 we took the opportunity to ask them additional questions on the impact of the 6-week lockdown on their weight loss journey. Of the 229 participants who had completed the initial survey, 58 responded to the additional COVID-19 impact survey. We assessed the representativeness of these 58 respondents by age, gender, education, and marital status, and thematically summarised the issues they described.

Participants had a good age distribution (18-39 years: 21%; 40-55years 41%; 56

year and above: 38%), but were skewed towards higher education (45% had Bachelor degree or higher), English-speaking (88%), mostly women (81%), and married or living with partners (76%). Most participants had a self-reported weight above healthy ranges (82%), with most within the range of obesity (62%). The majority (60%) of the participants indicated that their diet strategy for weight loss had been impacted, and a little over half the participants (52%) said their exercise strategy had been impacted over this period. A thematic summary of issues is shown in Table 1 .

Many of the issues raised by our participants were similar to those issues highlighted in the general population(1) as well as patients with obesity(2, 3), with reports of high levels of 'stress eating' and 'eating out of boredom', followed by 'higher food consumption' 'more opportunities to eat', and 'higher consumption of junk foods'. The (1). We also know from previous research that major life events such as marriage, pregnancy, stressful life events(4) and even seasonal holidays (5) disrupt the usual diet and exercise behaviours of people. These events affect ability to regulate our weight and subsequently have a profound effect on lifetime weight history. Therefore, the influences of lockdown periods on weight trajectories cannot be underestimated.

Our sample of higher-educated participants are likely to be better equipped at maintaining appropriate weight-related behaviours having embarked on selfmanaged weight loss journeysyet were overwhelmed in lockdown. This highlights a need to develop specific weight management guidelines that address the unique pressures brought about on people during lockdowns. Quarantine specific programs and resources should be in place, which can be immediately picked up and recommended during such situations by health professionals that are advising people with obesity. Practical suggestions (1), should be embedded in lifestyle guidelines and strategies during a quarantine. In the short term, this should include advice on types of foods to take to lock down, mindful meal preparation, eating regularity, and use of treat foods. There also needs to be a broader range of options available to people to exercise from home. Social exercising stands out as an important strategy for those trying to self-manage their weight. However, apart from online exercise classes, which are only really appealing to a certain segments of the population(6) -it is necessary to find novel approaches to maintain the social nature of exercise while physical distancing. However, in the longer term, detrimental responses to lifestyle stresses such as social distancing lockdowns will only be attenuated when the food and activity environments are improved to be more supportive of healthful eating and active living under a variety of circumstances. 

Selfquarantine and weight gain related risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Impact of COVID -19 Stay-at-Home Orders on Weight-Related Behaviors Among Patients with Obesity

Changes in Weight and Nutritional Habits in Adults with Obesity during the "Lockdown" Period Caused by the COVID-19 Virus Emergency

Life adverse experiences in relation with obesity and binge eating disorder: A systematic review

Effect of the Holiday Season on Weight Gain: A Narrative Review

Effects of online group exercises for older adults on physical, psychological and social wellbeing: a randomized pilot trial