Project description:American adults have gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about how patients who are medically managed for overweight and obesity, including patients who are prescribed antiobesity pharmacotherapy, have fared. To assess the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on weight, food choices, and health behaviors in patients receiving medical treatment for overweight or obesity. Adult patients treated at an urban academic weight management center between 1 May 2019 and 1 May 2020 were electronically surveyed between 23 February and 23 March 2021. The survey assessed changes in weight, eating, behaviors, and the use of antiobesity medications (AOMs) following issuance of social distancing/stay-at-home policies in March 2020. In 970 respondents, median percent weight change for those taking AOMs was -0.459% [interquartile range -5.46%-(+3.73%)] compared to +2.33% [IQR -1.92%-(+6.52%)] for those not taking AOMs (p < 0.001). More participants achieved ≥5% weight loss if they were taking AOMs compared to those who were not (26.7% vs. 15.8%, p = 0.004), and weight gain ≥5% was also lower in those taking AOMs (19.8% vs. 30.3%, p = 0.004). Patients with pre-pandemic BMI ≥30 kg/m2 taking AOMs experienced the greatest weight reduction, and there was greater weight loss associated with increased physical activity. Medical weight management protected against weight gain during this period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased physical activity, decreased alcohol intake, and use of AOMs were factors that contributed to this protective effect.
Project description:BackgroundTo limit transmission of COVID-19, state governments issued shelter-in-place orders. These orders coincided with a decrease in daily step count and an increase in overeating. We evaluated factors associated with weight gain of ≥ 15 pounds during the pandemic within an integrated health care system.MethodsWe included adults ages 18 and above with at least one weight measurement before the pandemic (March 19, 2019-March 19, 2020) and another measurement after COVID-19 vaccines became available, more than 9 months into the pandemic (December 14, 2020-December 14, 2021). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with weight gain of 15 pounds or more.ResultsOf 524,451 adults included in the study, median age was 61 years, 43.2% were men, 36.2% self identified as White, 8.6% Black, 35.7% Hispanic, and 16.2% Asian. During the pandemic, 38,213 (7.3%) adults gained ≥ 15 pounds. A higher proportion of young adults gained weight (16.2% age 18-39, 7.6% age 40-64, 4.7% age 65-79%, and 3.1% age ≥ 80). No significant difference was observed between men and women (7.2% men and 7.4% women). Weight gain was more prevalent among adults from low-income neighborhoods (8.9% low-income neighborhoods, 8.0% intermediate-income neighborhoods, and 6.5% high-income neighborhoods). Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that compared to adults ages 65-79 years, young adults ages 18-39 years had the highest risk of gaining ≥ 15 pounds (adjusted OR 5.19, 95% CI 5.01-5.38). Black race was associated with weight gain in an unadjusted analysis (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.21-1.30). However, this association was significantly attenuated after adjusting for other risk factors including neighborhood income levels (adjusted OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10). Having a diagnosis of depression pre-pandemic was also associated with weight gain during the pandemic (adjusted OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.50-1.58).ConclusionIn this racially and ethnically diverse population in southern California, significant weight gain of 15 pounds or more was observed in 7.3% of the adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Young adults, individuals who resided in low-income neighborhoods, and patients with depression were disproportionally affected.
Project description:BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in changes in lifestyle habits and experiences of mental health outcomes, some of which were possibly related to weight gain, leading to an increase in the prevalence of obesity, which is associated with the development of several severe diseases. Concerns regarding weight gain and its impact on health outcomes are prevalent worldwide, with obesity being one of the highest causes of mortality in current society.MethodsA self-reported questionnaire collected data from participants aged 18 years of age and above from 26 countries and regions worldwide. Post-hoc multiple logistic regression analyses have been done to evaluate the association between demographic and socioeconomic factors, and the perspectives that were identified to be associated with weight gain.ResultsParticipants belonging to a younger age group; with a higher level of education; living in an urban area; living with family members; employed full-time; and had obesity were found to be more vulnerable to weight gain. After adjusting for socio-demographic factors, participants who were quarantined; exercised less prior to the pandemic; consumed unhealthy foods; and reported negative thoughts such as helplessness and the perceived risk of COVID-19, were more likely to experience weight gain; while negative thoughts such as having no means of control over the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will have great personal effect were associated with females, students, and people living in the rural area.ConclusionsWeight gain risk during the pandemic was significantly associated with certain socio-demographic and COVID-19 related factors. To improve public health outcomes, future research should conduct a longitudinal evaluation on the effects of COVID-19 experiences upon health choices. Streamlined mental support should also be provided to the vulnerable groups which were prone to negative thoughts that were associated with weight gain.
Project description:Introduction and aimsThe behavioral changes that arose from quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the weight of people. This study aims to investigate the incidence and predictors of weight gain during the quarantine period.MethodsAn online survey was performed five months after the social distance measures implementation. Participants recorded their current and usual weight before lockdown. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed.ResultsData on 1334 participants were evaluated (33.6y, 79.8% females), and 58.8% have gained weight (3.0 kg; 0.1 to 30.0 kg). Predictors of weight gain were increased food intake (OR = 5.40); snacking (OR = 2.86); fast food (OR = 1.11); canned products (OR = 1.08); and in physical activity (OR = 0.99) concerning the period before the pandemic; also time spent at work, including household chores (OR = 1.58); evening snack (OR = 1.54); higher frequency of alcoholic beverage intake (OR = 1.59) and dose of alcoholic beverage (OR = 1.11); uncontrolled eating (OR = 1.01), and vegetable intake (OR = 0.92) during the quarantine and physical activity before pandemic period (OR = 0.99).ConclusionMost participants have gained weight during the pandemic because of working changes, lifestyle, eating habits changes, and uncontrolled eating behavior. These results can be useful to encourage changes during future quarantine periods to prevent weight gain.
Project description:ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to quantify the impact that self-quarantine has on behaviors associated with weight gain.MethodsThis was a quantitative descriptive/correlational research design. Research announcement was sent out via Facebook to 1200 possible participants. Six surveys were condensed into a single Survey Monkey questionnaire for participants to complete. Surveys asked questions relating to risk factors linked to weight gain.ResultsNinety-one percent of our sample stated they spend more time at home now than before COVID-19. Twenty-two percent of the sample stated they gained 5-10 pounds. Within those who gained 5-10 pounds, there was a significantly higher percentage of the total sample who reported they increased eating in response to sight and smell (p = .048), eating in response to stress (p = .041), and snacking after dinner (p = .016) compared to those who stated they did not change those behaviors at all. There were significant relationships between predictor variables hours of sleep per night and physical activity time on reported weight gain (r = -.195, p = .021, r = -.155, p = .034, respectively).ConclusionRisk factors for weight gain during self-quarantine are inadequate sleep, snacking after dinner, lack of dietary restraint, eating in response to stress, and reduced physical activity.
Project description:PurposeDuring the early COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in weight gain among the general population was observed; however, gestational weight gain (GWG) was not thoroughly evaluated. We evaluated changes in GWG during the pandemic closures in South Carolina.MethodsWe used live, singleton birth records to compare GWG outcomes among three pregnancy groups occurring before (January 2018-February 2020), during (March-May 2020), and after (June 2020-December 2021) pandemic closures. GWG categories were defined by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations. We used multinomial logistic regression models to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) of GWG categories stratified by prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) category.ResultsWe analyzed 177,571 birth records. Women with normal weight (n = 64,491, 36%) had a slightly lower prevalence of excessive GWG during and after the pandemic closures (PR 0.94; 95% CI: 0.91-0.98 and PR 0.95; 95% CI: 0.93-0.98, respectively). We observed no changes in GWG patterns for women with overweight and obesity.ConclusionsWe found limited changes in GWG patterns for a subset of pregnant women during and after pandemic closures, compared with prepandemic period in South Carolina, countering findings of weight changes among the general population.
Project description:The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a virtual exercise program throughout pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal weight gain. A randomized clinical trial (NCT NCT04563065) was performed. In total, 300 pregnant individuals were assessed for eligibility, and a total of 157 were randomized, of which 79 were in the control group (CG), and 78 were in the intervention group (IG). Those in the intervention group participated in a virtual supervised exercise program throughout pregnancy, 3 days per week. Fewer pregnant participants exceeded the weight gain recommendations in the IG group than in the CG (n = 4/5.9% vs. n = 31/43.1%, p = 0.001). Weight gain during pregnancy was lower in the IG than in the CG (9.96 ± 3.27 kg vs. 12.48 ± 4.87 kg, p = 0.001). Analysis of subgroups based on pre-pregnancy body mass index, showed significant differences in excessive maternal weight gain between study groups in normal-weight (IG, n = 0/0% vs. CG, n = 10/25%, p = 0.001) and those with overweight (IG, n = 2/18% vs. CG, n = 12/60%, p = 0.025). A virtual supervised exercise program throughout pregnancy could be a clinical tool to manage maternal weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic by controlling excessive gain.