PaLS Study: How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Influenced Physical Activity and Nutrition? Observations a Year after the Outbreak of the Pandemic

Alicja Monika Jodczyk, Grzegorz Gruba, Zuzanna Sikora, Przemysław Seweryn Kasiak, Joanna Gębarowska, Natalia Adamczyk, Artur Mamcarz and Daniel Śliż
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Alicja Monika Jodczyk: Students’ Scientific Group of Lifestyle Medicine, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 04-749 Warsaw, Poland
Grzegorz Gruba: Students’ Scientific Group of Lifestyle Medicine, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 04-749 Warsaw, Poland
Zuzanna Sikora: Students’ Scientific Group of Lifestyle Medicine, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 04-749 Warsaw, Poland
Przemysław Seweryn Kasiak: Students’ Scientific Group of Lifestyle Medicine, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 04-749 Warsaw, Poland
Joanna Gębarowska: Students’ Scientific Group of Lifestyle Medicine, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 04-749 Warsaw, Poland
Natalia Adamczyk: Students’ Scientific Group of Lifestyle Medicine, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 04-749 Warsaw, Poland
Artur Mamcarz: Polish Society of Lifestyle Medicine, 00-388 Warsaw, Poland
Daniel Śliż: Students’ Scientific Group of Lifestyle Medicine, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 04-749 Warsaw, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-15

Abstract: The restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have impacted the majority of life domains. To evaluate their potential consequences on physical activity (PA) and dietary habits among Polish undergraduates, a survey consisting of the IPAQ-SF, authors’ questions based on the Polish National Institute of Public Health recommendations, and authors’ questions scaled ?5/0/5 on personal opinion was created and administered between 22 February and 3 April 2021. A total of 1323 students met the study conditions (1021 females, 297 males, 5 did not specify gender, mean age: 22 years old (SD = 4), mean BMI = 22.27 kg/m 2 (SD = 3.87)). A total of 27.21% of students were in the low, 48.53% in the moderate, and 24.26% in the high PA group. A total of 71.94% estimated that the pandemic had a negative impact on their PA, 8.16% no impact, and 19.9% a positive impact. A total of 35.5% had an insufficient intake of vegetables, 34.3% declared adding salt to meals, and 31.6% ate animal-based products the majority of days in a week or every day. A total of 51.02% assessed the impact of the pandemic on their nutrition as negative, 20.11% did not notice changes, and 28.87% reported a positive impact on their dietary habits. Most of the students saw harmful pandemic effects on their diet and PA compared to the times before restrictions. This can lead to a higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the future.

Keywords: physical activity; nutrition; public health; COVID-19 pandemic; lifestyle medicine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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