Accepted for/Published in: Interactive Journal of Medical Research
Date Submitted: Jul 11, 2023
Date Accepted: Oct 29, 2024
Weight and lifestyle behavior changes in Chinese healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 3-year retrospective survey
ABSTRACT
Background:
Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) have been playing a key role in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. High infection risk, and intensive work not only have caused burnout in many HCWs, substantially affect their mental health and lifestyle which lead to body weight changes.
Objective:
This study aims to investigate the overweight/obesity rates and lifestyle behavior changes of Chinese HCWs during the pandemic and to provide evidence for policy making.
Methods:
Methods A cross-sectional design was employed. HCWs were randomly selected from 100 healthcare institutions in 5 provinces/regions in China for web survey in July 2022 using self-administered electronic questionnaire. A chi square test and analyses of variance (ANOVA) were employed to assess the association between the groups. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors associated with HCWs becoming overweight/obese and their lifestyle behavior changes.
Results:
Results 23,234 HCWs participated. 12.67% became overweight/obese in 2022 after being underweight/normal in 2019. 82.67% of the respondents experienced increased persistent stress and/or recurrent anxiety/depressed mood from 2019 to 2022. 68.22% stayed up late more often. The age groups of 34-43 (OR: 0.843, 95%CI: 0.740, 0.960), 44-53 (OR: 0.738, 95%CI: 0.635, 0.960), and 54-63 (OR: 0.503, 95%CI: 0.368, 0.685); physical activity (OR: 0.833, 95%CI: 0.731, 0.948); and appetite (OR: 2.043, 95%CI: 1.788, 2.034) were associated with HCWs becoming overweight/obese after being underweight/normal from 2019 to 2022 (P < 0.05). Increase of persistent stress and/or recurrent anxiety/depressed mood was associated with physical activity reduction (OR:0.421, 95%CI: 0.398, 0.447) and appetite increase (OR:1.601, 95%CI: 1.483, 1.728) (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Conclusion The pandemic increased the risk of being overweight/obese among Chinese HCWs due to lifestyle behavior changes, especially physical activity reduction and appetite increase, related to increased persistent stress and/or recurrent anxiety/depressed mood caused by an excessive workload. An integrated approach is needed to address the overweight and obesity rate and lifestyle changes among HCWs.
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