Effect of socioeconomic characteristics and lifestyle on BMI distribution in the Chinese population: a population-based cross-sectional study

Body-mass index and obesity in infertile couples in southwest China

To investigate body mass index (BMI) of infertile couples and analyze its related influencing factors in Southwest China, so as to prevent and control the obesity. We analyzed the data of a total number of 8877 infertile couples who received treatment in our assisted reproductive center from October 2012 to March 2022. The mean age and BMI of men and women were 33.5 years, 23.9 kg/m2 and 31.6 years, 21.9 kg/m2. The prevalence of overweight (BMI 25-29.9) was 30.9% in men and 14.7% in women, 3.7% of men and 1.6% of women were obese (BMI ≥ 30), while 3.6% of men and 10.8% of women were underweight (BMI<18.5). Multivariable linear regression analysis indicated that the age and educational background of both women and men had an impact on BMI. In our study, the proportion of male obesity and overweight is much higher than that of female. On the other hand, the proportion of females with low weight was higher than that of males. The age and educational background of men and women have a certain correlation with BMI.

Impacts of Self-Efficacy on Food and Dietary Choices during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in China

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global public health emergency, increasing the prevalence of emotional distress, and potentially leading to altered diet behavior. Self-efficacy measures various aspects of perceiving and understanding emotions. The present study was carried out with the objective of understanding the effect of emotional self-efficacy on dietary behavior and quality. It also shed light on which elements contributed to the link between food-related behavior and perceived dietary quality during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the factor analysis of nineteen food groups, choices, consumption, and socioeconomic status were examined in a sample of 441 Chinese participants. Multiple linear regression examined the association between food consumption, dietary quality, and self-efficacy. Contrary to prior research, the intake of salty snacks and alcoholic beverages dropped by 3.3% and 2.8%, respectively, during the first lockdown. Emotional self-efficacy negatively mediated the relationship between socioeconomic status and dietary quality. In conclusion, emotional self-efficacy is a well-established tool for evaluating how Chinese people cope with negative emotions. As an individual’s dietary quality was affected during the imposed lockdown, the present study offers valuable insight into psychosocial factors that may contribute to health disparities by advocating for organized nutritional support in future epidemic-related quarantines.