Role Of Mental Health On Weight Gain During Covid-19 Pandemic Among Older Adults In Subsidized Housing

Abstract

Older adults who are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection related hospitalization and death have been greatly impacted by the stay at home recommendation during the pandemic. A change in physical activity and food consumption are well known health behavior factors that can influence weight gain. However, little is known how mental health may be related to change in body weight in this older adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of health behavior and mental health factors on weight gain during COVID-19 pandemic among older adults living in subsidized housing. METHODS: Fifty-eight older adults (10 M/48F) living in subsidized housing (Age: 73.5 ± 6.8 years; BMI = 29.7 ± 5.8 kg/m2) participated in a telephone interview survey research. The study was conducted during 7-9 months (Oct-Dec, 2020) into the COVID-19 pandemic. Health behavior factors were assessed by self-reported changes in physical activities and food intake during COVID-19. Mental health was assessed using Geriatric Depression Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Participants were divided into two groups based on reported weight gain (n = 24) vs. weight maintenance/loss (n = 34). RESULTS: Age and BMI were comparable between two groups (all p > 0.05). Those who gained weight reported increased time spent in sitting (2.5 ± 0.7 vs. 2.1 ± 0.5; p = 0.002), an increase in food intake (2.4 ± 0.8 vs. 1.9 ± 0.5; p = 0.006) and a trend to decrease time spent in physical activity (1.6 ± 0.8 vs. 1.9 ± 0.5; p = 0.07). Those who gained weight also had lower life satisfaction (25.9 ± 5.6 vs. 29.3 ± 3.2; p = 0.006), greater level of depression (4.2 ± 3.6 vs. 2.3 ± 2.6; p = 0.02) and tended to have more anxiety (11.4 ± 5.1 vs. 9.3 ± 3.5; p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Older adults who gained body weight during COVID-19 pandemic had greater level of depression and lower satisfaction with life. Mental health may play an important role in one’s ability to maintain body weight, particularly during times that may increase level of distress. Future investigation may focus on understanding the direct link between mental health and healthy behaviors to prevent weight gain in older adults in subsidized housing.