Changes in food intake, smoking habits and physical activity before and one year after the end of the COVID-19 lockdown in Spanish population of 20 to 30 years of age

Trabajo de Fin de Máster. Máster en Salud Pública. Curso 2020-2021[EN] Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic, that initiated in Wuhan, China presenting its first case on the 17th of november 2019 and in Spain on the 31st of January 2019, represented a massive impact on human health. Not only was the health of the world population affected, but also their lifestyles (food, alcohol and tobacco consumption as well as physical activity) through social distancing and isolation at home that led to social and economic consequences. There have been several studies that demonstrated a change in the customs of people, but none that stated whether this changes that occurred during and due to the pandemic where so strong as to cause a permanent change in the lifestyles. Material and Methods: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted, using a questionnaire, on a convenience sample of 659 Spanish adults aged 20–30 years. Study subjects were recruited from 18th of June to 15th of July 2020 and were asked to report the changes they observed in certain food consumption, tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption, and physical activity between before the lockdown and at the time of interview, one-year after the end of the lockdown. Results: A total of 659 respondents participated in the study (54,4% females.) The population of non-smokers was of 50,8%. Of those smokers that tried to stop smoking (18,6%) 25,5% managed to do so. We have observed a significance difference in the consumption of fruit, meat and coffee between men and women a year after the end of the lockdown. The increase of fruit consumption was greater in men than in women (32,8% vs. 25,8%.) Only 23,7% of men decreased the consumption of meat compared to 34% in women. Women had a tendency to maintain the coffee intake (51,3% of women compared to 41,55 of men.), whereas men had a larger variation of this consumption. Of those who increased the intake of vegetable and fruit the “couples’ where the group most present, forming 30,3% and 28,9% respectively. Of all the participants that decrease the intake of fruit, this was more frequent between those that passed the lockdown alone (30,3%.) Having passed the lockdown in Spain decreased by 46% the probability of increasing the consumption of fish and fish products compared to not having increased it (OR: 0,541, [95%IC: 0,340; 0,863]) as well as decreasing both the probability of increasing the consumption of milk and pre-cooked foods by 58% (OR: 0,421, [95%IC :0,26:0,681]) and 46,5% (OR: 0,535, [95% IC: 0,342; 0,836]), respectively, Passing the lockdown in Spain decreased by 56% (OR: 0,437, [95% IC: 0,273; 0,698]) and 51% (OR: 0,489, [95% IC: 0,309; 0,775]) the probability of having increase in consumption of sweets and chocolate compared to not having increased it. As for the patterns obtained for the smoking habit there was no concrete alteration not even when stratifying. Having passed the lockdown in Spain reduced the probability by 52% of having increased physical activity at the gym compared to not having increased. (OR: 0,482, [95%IC: 0,313;0,743].) Conclusions: COVID-19 lockdown had a large impact on both the food consumption as well as the physical activity of the Spanish population between the ages of 20-30 years. The fact that those that passed the lockdown outside of Spain increased the exercise at the gym significantly compared to those that passed it in Spain could be associated to the limitations of outdoor exercise during the lockdown inside of Spain. The participants that passed the lockdown with their couple improved their diets, increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits and decreased the alcohol consumption, probably due to positive feedback between the two. The fact that those that passed the lockdown outside out Spain decreased the intake of fresh foods (vegetables and fruits) but increases the consumption of pre-cooked foods, fish, sweets and chocolate could be related to the lack of availability to achieve a Mediterranean diet during this period. [ES] Introducción: La pandemia de COVID-19, que se inició en Wuhan, China siendo el primer caso el 17 de noviembre de 2019 y en España el 31 de enero de 2019, representó un impacto masivo en la salud humana. No solo se vio afectada la salud de la población mundial, sino también sus estilos de vida (consumo de alimentos, alcohol y tabaco, así como actividad física) a través del distanciamiento social y el aislamiento en el hogar que tuvo consecuencias sociales y económicas. Se han realizado varios estudios que demostraron un cambio en las costumbres de las personas, pero ninguno que estableciera si los cambios que ocurrieron durante y debido a la pandemia fueron tan fuertes como para provocar un cambio permanente en los estilos de vida. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal en la web, mediante un cuestionario, sobre una muestra de conveniencia de 659 adultos españoles de 20 a 30 años. Los sujetos del estudio fueron reclutados del 18 de junio al 15 de julio de 2020 y se les pidió que informaran los cambios que observaron en el consumo de ciertos alimentos, el consumo de tabaco, el consumo de alcohol y la actividad física entre antes del encierro y en el momento de la entrevista, un año. después del final del encierro. Resultados: Participaron en el estudio un total de 659 encuestados (54,4% mujeres). La población de no fumadores fue del 50,8%. De los fumadores que intentaron dejar de fumar (18,6%), el 25,5% lo consiguió. Hemos observado una diferencia significativa en el consumo de fruta, carne y café entre hombres y mujeres un año después del final del encierro. El aumento del consumo de frutas fue mayor en hombres que en mujeres (32,8% vs. 25,8%). Sólo el 23,7% de los hombres disminuyó el consumo de carne frente al 34% de las mujeres. Las mujeres tenían una tendencia a mantener la ingesta de café (51,3% de las mujeres frente al 41,55 de los hombres), mientras que los hombres tenían una mayor variación de este. De los que aumentaron la ingesta de verduras y frutas las “parejas” fueron el grupo más presente, formando un 30,3% y un 28,9% respectivamente. De todos los participantes que disminuyeron la ingesta de fruta, este fue más frecuente entre los que pasaron solos el encierro (30,3%). Haber pasado el confinamiento en España disminuyó de un 46% la probabilidad de incrementar el consumo de pescado y productos pesqueros frente a no haberlo incrementado (OR: 0,54,[ IC 95%: 0,340; 0,863]) así como disminuir tanto laprobabilidad de incrementar el consumo de leche y alimentos precocinados en un 58% (OR: 0,421, [IC95%: 0, 26: 0,681]) y 46,5% (OR: 0,535, [95% IC: 0,342; 0,836]), respectivamente. Haber pasado el confinamiento en España disminuyó en un 56% (OR: 0,437, [IC95%: 0,273; 0,698]) y 51% (OR: 0,489, [IC95%: 0,309; 0,775]) la probabilidad de tener aumento en el consumo de dulces y chocolate en comparación con no haberlo aumentado. En cuanto a los patrones obtenidos para el hábito tabáquico no hubo alteración concreta ni siquiera al estratificar. Haber superado el encierro en España redujo en un 52% la probabilidad de haber aumentado la actividad física en el gimnasio frente a no haber aumentado. (OR: 0,482, [95% IC: 0,313; 0,743].) Conclusiones: El confinamiento del COVID-19 tuvo un gran impacto tanto en el consumo de alimentos como en la actividad física de la población española de entre 20 y 30 años. El hecho de que los que pasaron el confinamiento fuera de España aumentaron significativamente el ejercicio en el gimnasio en comparación con los que lo aprobaron en España podría estar asociado a las limitaciones del ejercicio al aire libre durante el encierro dentro de España. Los participantes que pasaron el confinamiento con su pareja mejoraron sus dietas, aumentaron la ingesta de verduras y frutas y disminuyeron el consumo de alcohol, probablemente debido a la retroalimentación positiva entre los dos. El hecho de que los que pasaron el confinamiento fuera de España disminuyan la ingesta de alimentos frescos (verduras y frutas) pero aumente el consumo de alimentos precocinados, pescado, dulces y chocolate podría estar relacionado con la falta de disponibilidad para lograr una dieta mediterránea.APPRECIATIONS ABSTRACT RESUMEN TABLES AND FIGURES LIST INTRODUCTION MATERIAL AND METHODS Study population Study Design Measures Sociodemographic Information Food Consumption Smoking habits Physical activity Ethics Data Analysis RESULTS Characteristics of Participants Patterns of changes in food consumption Patterns of changes in smoking habits Patterns of changes in physical activity DISCUSSION TABLES AND FIGURES ACTIVITIES DEVELOPED ANNEX 1: ANNEX 2:N

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