In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown had an impact on household eating habits. A study from the University of Chile found that 4 out of 10 families changed their habits and 50% stated that they are eating worse than before the pandemic (Araneda, et al., 2021). People were in house confinement, with a limited food supply and healthy options. The anxiety derived from the uncertainty of the situation caused an increase in the consumption of unhealthy foods, such as fast foods (Wang, et al., 2020). Some people lost their loved ones and are living in depression. Disordered eating patterns increase the risk for obesity and related chronic diseases. School and work were completed at home, reducing physical activity, and increasing sedentary lifestyles (Chen, et al., 2020).
UPR employees have been working remotely from home since the COVID-19 lockdown, mid-March 2020. Frequently, more than seven hours are spent sitting in front of a computer, working under stressful situations such as power outages and problems with internet connections, while also supervising online learning for school-age children or taking care of older adults. Physical activities are reduced. These factors may be predisposing UPR employees to obesity or increased obesity and difficulty controlling coexisting chronic conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
Studies are needed to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating and physical activity patterns, as well as lifestyle factors and emotions that may have affected the availability and quality of food for consumption in Puerto Rican households. We expect the information obtained from this pilot online survey in UPR-RP non-docent employees will be a starting point for providing insights, educational tools, and strategies for interventions to attain and maintain nutritional, physical, and emotional health during pandemic and other emergencies, just as these kinds of questionnaires have been able to provide in other communities (de Faria Coelho-Ravagnani, 2021).
The protocol and online survey in Google Forms was submitted to the UPR-RP Institutional Review Board, CIPSHI for initial expedited revision on June 24th, 2021. Requested revisions to the protocol, CIPSHI # 2021-154, were submitted on July 7th. We are currently awaiting a response.
References:
Araneda, J., Pinheiro, A., González, D., & Pizarro, T. (2021). Resultados Preliminares: Proyecto “Comportamiento de compra y hábitos alimentarios en tiempos de coronavirus (COVID-19).” [Presentación] Universidad de Santiago de Chile & Universidad del Bío-Bío. Retrieved from: https://medicina.udd.cl/files/2020/06/Comportamiento-de-compra-y-h%C3%A1bitos-alimentarios-en-tiempos-COVID-19.pdf
Chen, P., Mao, L., Nassis, G. P., Harmer, P., Ainsworth, B. E., & Li, F. (2020). Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV): The need to maintain regular physical activity while taking precautions. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 9(2), 103–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2020.02.001
de Faria Coelho-Ravagnani, C., Corgosinho, F. C., Sanches, F. F. Z., Prado, C. M. M., Laviano, A., & Mota, J. F. (2021). Dietary recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nutrition Reviews, 79(4), 382-393. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaa067.
Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L., Ho, C. S., & Ho, R. C. (2020). Immediate psychological responses and associated factors during the initial stage of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic among the general population in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), 1729. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051729