Leading Factors for Weight Gain during COVID-19 Lockdown in a Spanish Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

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2021Author
Bellido, Diego
Monereo, Susana
Malagón, Maria Mar
Tinahones, Francisco José
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Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity
Suggested citation
Sánchez Peña, Enric;
Lecube Torelló, Albert;
Bellido, Diego;
Monereo, Susana;
Malagón, Maria Mar;
Tinahones, Francisco José;
.
(2021)
.
Leading Factors for Weight Gain during COVID-19 Lockdown in a Spanish Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Nutrients, 2021, vol. 13, núm. 3, p. 894.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030894.
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The increase in sedentary behaviors during the COVID-19-induced lockdown may have
led to a significant weight gain. To investigate this hypothesis, a representative sample of the Spanish
adult population comprising 1000 subjects was enrolled in a cross-sectional study between 26 May
and 10 June 2020. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted consisting of 29 questions
on the topic of lifestyle habits during the lockdown. The cohort comprised 51.5% women and 51%
overweight or obese subjects and had a mean age of 50 ± 18 years. Of the respondents, 44.5% selfreported weight gain during the lockdown; of these, 58.0% were women, 69.9% had previous excess
weight, 44.7% lived with a relative who also gained weight, and 73.5 experienced increased appetite.
Further, an increased consumption of energy-dense products was found relative to respondents
who did not gain weight (p ≤ 0.016 for all). Additionally, respondents were unaware that obesity
is a poor prognostic factor for COVID-19 infection, lived in smaller flats, and had a lower level of
education and lower monthly income. The factors independently associated with weight gain were
female gender, previous overweight or obesity, lack of food care, increased appetite, and increased
consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, alcoholic beverages, and snacks (p ≤ 0.023 for all).
Should another lockdown be mandated, extra caution is warranted to prevent weight gain.
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Nutrients, 2021, vol. 13, núm. 3, p. 894European research projects
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