EFFECT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON EXERCISE, NUTRITIONAL BEHAVIORS AND PERCEIVED STRESS STATUS OF ADULTS

Abstract

The aim of this descriptive study is to evaluate how COVID-19 pandemic has affected exercise, eating behaviours and level of perceived stress in adults. 1037 people living in different geographical regions in Turkey were reached. The proportion of those who did not exercise regularly during the quarantine period increased at a statistically significant level. The majority of the participants expressed that they made changes in their eating habits to protect themselves against the coronavirus. 48.7% of them stated that their desire to eat intensified during the quarantine period due to boredom and stress. Perceived Stress Scale mean score was higher in female participants compared to their male counterparts and this difference was statistically significant. Participants' perceived stress levels are high, stress has an impact on nutritional behavior, and social ways of coping with stress need to be learned. Wrong nutritional choices that may occur due to changing emotional state should be prevented. A healthy diet and physical activity movement should be started by constantly sharing information on dietary recommendations and home exercise practices specific to COVID-19; in this way, it may be possible of people and to protect people against diseases by balancing the energy intake during the COVID-19 pandemic.