Indirect Health Effects of COVID-19: Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors during the Lockdown in the United Arab Emirates

Hadia Radwan, Mahra Al Kitbi, Hayder Hasan, Marwa Al Hilali, Nada Abbas, Rena Hamadeh, Eman Rashid Saif and Farah Naja
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Hadia Radwan: Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (RIMHS), College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Mahra Al Kitbi: Health Promotion Department, Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Hayder Hasan: Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (RIMHS), College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Marwa Al Hilali: Clinical Nutrition Department, Al Qassimi Hospital-Ministry of Health and Prevention, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Nada Abbas: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107, Lebanon
Rena Hamadeh: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107, Lebanon
Eman Rashid Saif: Health Promotion Department, Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Farah Naja: Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (RIMHS), College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-22

Abstract: Background : Lockdown measures were implemented in many countries to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, such restrictions could precipitate unintended negative consequences on lifestyle behaviors. The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and determinants of unhealthy behavior changes during the COVID-19 lockdown among residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods : A cross-sectional web-based survey of adults residing in the UAE was carried out during lockdown (n = 2060). Using a multi-component questionnaire, the collected data included questions regarding the following lifestyle changes: Increased dietary intake, increased weight, decreased physical activity, decreased sleep, and increased smoking. An unhealthy lifestyle change score was calculated based on the number of unhealthy lifestyle changes each participant reported. In addition, sociodemographic and living conditions information was collected. Descriptive statistics as well as simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the prevalence and determinants of the unhealthy lifestyle changes considered in this study. Results : Among the unhealthy lifestyle changes examined, increased food intake was the most common (31.8%), followed by decreased physical activity (30%), increased weight (29.4%), decreased sleep (20.8%), and increased smoking (21%). In addition to identifying the correlates of each of the aforementioned lifestyle changes, the results of the multiple regression linear analyses revealed the following correlates for the overall unhealthy lifestyle change score: females (? = 0.32, CI: 0.22; 0.42), living in an apartment (? = 0.12, CI: 0.003; 0.23) and being overweight/obese (? = 0.24, CI: 0.15; 0.32) had higher scores, while older adults (>40 years) had lower scores (? = ?0.23, CI: ?0.34; ?0.12). Conclusions : The COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in a high prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and practices among UAE residents. The findings of this study provided the evidence base for officials to design interventions targeting high-risk groups and aiming to improve healthy lifestyle factors among residents during the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; diet; lifestyle behaviors; UAE; lockdown (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 (7)

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