Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced changes in our lifestyles, such as refraining from unnecessary outings. This study aimed to clarify the association of lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic with nutrient intake and physical activity levels during pregnancy in Japan. A cross-sectional study involving 168 healthy pregnant Japanese women was conducted in 2020. Nutrient intake and physical activity levels were assessed using validated self-administered questionnaires. Participants who reported experiencing changes in both dietary habits and physical activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic were classified as the lifestyle-affected group. Analysis of covariance was used. Among primiparas, intake of the following nutrients was significantly higher in the lifestyle-affected group (n = 14) than in the unaffected group (n = 77): protein, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B6. Among multiparas, the intake of dietary fiber and β-carotene were significantly lower in the lifestyle-affected group (n = 13) than in the unaffected group (n = 64). No significant differences in physical activity levels were observed in accordance with the lifestyle changes. These findings suggest that lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic have positive effects on nutrient intake during pregnancy in primiparas, whereas in multiparas, these changes have negative effects.
Highlights
Accepted: 25 October 2021The World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) as a global pandemic in January 2020 [1]
This study aimed to clarify the association of lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic with nutrient intake and physical activity levels during pregnancy in Japan
The analyses were conducted by parity. We considered variables such as prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), working status, and Japanese version of the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (J-PAI) score, which were reported to be associated with nutrient intake or physical activity levels during pregnancy in previous studies [20,24,25]
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) as a global pandemic in January 2020 [1]. New cases and deaths due to COVID-19 have been rapidly increasing worldwide. Governments in many countries have introduced measures such as lockdowns and restrictions on everyday activities. As the number of infected people in Japan increased, the public was asked to refrain from unnecessary activities outside their homes. All commercial establishments were required to close or reduce their hours of operation, and employees of companies were encouraged to work remotely. The level of daily living restrictions depended on the individual’s perspective since the Japanese government’s request to refrain from going out was not enforced as a lockdown
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