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Patterns of eating behaviors, physical activity, and lifestyle modifications among Bangladeshi adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic
Various safety protocols such as movement limitations, closure of schools, and social distancing measures persisted worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, including in Bangladesh. This research by Ferdous et al. (2024) aimed to investigate how adolescents’ eating behaviors, physical activity, and lifestyle adjustments have been influenced during this period. 490 teenagers participated in a cross-sectional research that ran from December 2020 to May 2021. Participants responded to a semi-structured online questionnaire covering socio-demographic factors (such as age, gender, education, and place of residence), anthropometric measurements, dietary habits (such as frequency and amount of food consumed), physical activity levels (determined using a modified version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form [IPAQ-SF]), and adjustments to stress and sleep patterns prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, 43.7% of participants reported weight gain. Additionally, 23.5% of respondents reported eating more meals each day. Eating habits deviated from local balanced dietary norms, leaning towards unhealthy patterns. Although physical exercise slightly rose during the pandemic, there was a significant surge in screen time for entertainment. Many individuals experienced heightened physical fatigue, emotional strain, irritability, and stress compared to the pre-pandemic period. Additionally, 47.5% of participants encountered various sleep disturbances during the pandemic. While lockdowns and social distancing are crucial for COVID-19 prevention, the findings suggest that they may lead to lifestyle alterations, reduced physical activity, and psychological challenges among Bangladeshi adolescents. [NPID: Safety protocols, adolescents, COVID-19 pandemic, eating behaviors, physical activity, lifestyle adjustments, cross-sectional research]
Year: 2024
