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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
The impact of isolation measures due to COVID-19 on energy intake and physical activity levels in Australian university students
Nutrients, Vol.12(6), pp.1-14
2020
Appears in COVID-19 Research
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in physical isolation measures in many parts of the world. In Australia, nationwide restrictions included staying at home, unless seeking medical care, providing care, purchasing food, undertaking exercise, or attending work in an essential service. All undergraduate university classes transitioned to online, mostly home-based learning. We, therefore, examined the effect of isolation measures during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (March/April) on diet (24-h recall) and physical activity (Active Australia Survey) patterns in third-year biomedical students. Findings were compared with students enrolled in the same course in the previous two years. In females, but not males, energy intake was ~20% greater during the pandemic, and snacking frequency and energy density of consumed snacks also increased compared with 2018 and 2019. Physical activity was impacted for both sexes during the pandemic with ~30% fewer students achieving “sufficient” levels of activity, defined by at least 150 min over at least five sessions, compared with the previous two years. In a follow-up study six to eight weeks later (14–18% response rate), during gradual easing of nationwide restrictions albeit continued gym closures and online learning, higher energy intake in females and reduced physical activity levels in both sexes persisted. These data demonstrate the health impacts of isolation measures, with the potential to affect long-term diet and activity behaviours.
Details
- Title
- The impact of isolation measures due to COVID-19 on energy intake and physical activity levels in Australian university students
- Authors
- Linda Gallo (Author) - The University of QueenslandTania F Gallo (Author) - North Melbourne Football ClubSophia L. Young (Author) - The University of QueenslandKaren Moritz (Author) - The University of QueenslandLisa K. Akison (Author) - The University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Nutrients, Vol.12(6), pp.1-14
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Date published
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.3390/nu12061865
- ISSN
- 2072-6643
- Copyright note
- © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Biomedicine; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99620608202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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