Lockdown impact on diet, physical activity and serum markers

Abstract

Rationale: COVID-19-related total lockdown (L) caused behavioural changes in a very short time. We investigated changes in dietary habits, physical activity (PA) and serum markers during L in Slovenia.Methods: Lean healthy adults with an interest in nutrition, who completed a measurement comprised of Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), 3-day Food Diary, International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ), anthropometrics and blood sample in January and February 2020 (baseline) for a study interrupted by L, were invited to complete online questionnaire comprised of FFQ and questions about lifestyle changes 4 weeks after the start of L, and then to attend another measurement post-L in the beginning of June 2020. Healthy eating index (HEI)1 was calculated from nutrition data. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA).Results: 38 participants (24 female, BMI: 22.5 ± 2.7 kg/m2, age: 20 – 60 years) completed all measurements. HEI dropped significantly during L (64.6 ± 15.8 to 61.1 ± 13.4, p = 0.008), so did energy intake (2300 ± 870 to 1890 ± 680 kcal, p = 0.004). Both returned almost to baseline post-L. The number of meals per day did not change. PA induced energy expenditure significantly dropped during L (13.9 ± 22.5 to 9.9 ± 13.6 MET, p = 0.035). Body mass remained stable. There were significant increases from baseline in post-L in serum glucose (4.9 ± 0.4 to 5.2 ± 0.7 mmol/L, p = 0.005), total cholesterol (5.5 ± 3.5 to 5.9 ± 3.4 mmol/L, p = 0.003) and LDL (3.9 ± 3.6 to 4.1 ± 3.6 mmol/L, p = 0.049). Serum glucose increased more in participants who were restrained close to home compared to those who had activities in nature, and those who had several risky contacts compared to those with less contacts.Conclusion: Despite stable body mass, serum biomarkers for chronic noncommunicable diseases in healthy lean adults deteriorated during 3 months of L.