Changes in the Lifestyle of the Spanish University Population during Confinement for COVID-19

Sandra Sumalla-Cano, Tamara Forbes-Hernández, Silvia Aparicio-Obregón, Jorge Crespo, María Eléxpuru-Zabaleta, Mónica Gracia-Villar, Francesca Giampieri and Iñaki Elío
Additional contact information
Sandra Sumalla-Cano: Research Group on Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain
Tamara Forbes-Hernández: Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology ‘‘José Mataix”, University of Granada, 1871 Granada, Spain
Silvia Aparicio-Obregón: Department of Health, Nutrition and Sport, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, Campeche 24560, Mexico
Jorge Crespo: Department of Health, Nutrition and Sport, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, Campeche 24560, Mexico
María Eléxpuru-Zabaleta: Research Group on Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain
Mónica Gracia-Villar: Department of Health, Nutrition and Sport, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, Campeche 24560, Mexico
Francesca Giampieri: Research Group on Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain
Iñaki Elío: Research Group on Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on eating and physical activity behavior, in a university population. A healthy diet such as the Mediterranean Diet (MD) pattern, rich in fruit and vegetables, can prevent degenerative diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc. We conducted a cross-sectional study and data were collected by an anonymous online questionnaire. Participants completed a survey consisting of 3 sections: sociodemographic data; dietary behavior and physical activity; the Mediterranean Diet questionnaire (MEDAS-14) and the Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ). A total of 168 participants completed the questionnaire: 66.7% were women, 79.2% were from Spain, 76.8% were students, 76.2% lived in their family home and 66.1% were of normal weight. During lockdown our population shopped for groceries 1 time or less per week (76.8%); maintained the same consumption of fruits (45.2%), vegetables (50.6%), dairy products (61.9%), pulses (64.9%), fish/seafood (57.7%), white meat (77.4%), red and processed meat (71.4%), pastries and snacks (48.2%), rice/pasta/potatoes (70.2%) and nuts (62.5%), spirits (98.8%) and sugary drinks (91.7%). Cooking time increased (73.2%) and the consumption decreased of low alcohol drinks (60.1%), spirits (75%) and sugary drinks (57.1%), and physical activity also diminished (49.4%). University Employees (UE) gained more weight (1.01 ± 0.02) than students (0.99 ± 0.03) ( p < 0.05) during the confinement period. A total of 79.8% of the participants obtained a Medium/High Adherence to the MD during lockdown. Emotional and very emotional eaters were higher in the female group ( p < 0.01). In the event of further confinement, strategies should be implemented to promote a balanced and healthy diet together with the practice of physical activity, taking special care of the female and UE groups.

Keywords: COVID-19; eating habits; physical activity; MEDAS-14; Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EEQ) and university population (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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