Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a questionnaire on eating habits and physical activity of university students in confinement due to coronavirus disease

The role of lifestyle and mental health in the weight change of higher vocational college students in Fuzhou, China during COVID-19

Objectives

This study is aimed to explore the influence of higher vocational college students' lifestyle and mental health on weight change in Fuzhou during COVID-19.

Methods

This study adopted the cross-sectional study method and a total of 1426 students (1111 women and 315 men) were recruited from higher vocational college in Fuzhou. The questionnaire mainly included six dimensions: demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, dietary habits, physical activity, sleep quality and psychological status.

Results

According to the weight changes, the group was divided into weight loss group, constant weight group and weight gain group. More people in the weight gain group had increased their intake of various foods compared to the other groups (P < 0.001), in addition, the number of physical activity decreased and basically unchanged was more, and the number of sedentary time increased and basically unchanged was more in the three groups(P < 0.001). The incidence of poor sleep quality (60.3 %, 46.9 %, 57.5 %, P < 0.001), depressive symptoms (58.9 %, 47.5 %, 62.0 %, P < 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (42.5 %, 35.8 %, 45.3 %, P = 0.005) in the weight loss group and the weight gain group were significantly higher than those in the constant weight group. After adjusting for the potential confounders (including age, sex, grade, smoking, drinking, diet, etc.), decreased physical activity, depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were independent risk factors for weight gain compared with the constant weight group(OR = 1.643, P = 0.046; OR = 1.695, P < 0.001; OR = 1.389, P = 0.020).

Conclusions

The increased food intake, decreased physical activity, depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were positively correlated with weight gain.