Long-Lasting Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lifestyle and Body Weight: Results of Representative Cross-Sectional Surveys in Adults in Germany

Abstract

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected people’s daily lives and health. Few studies have looked into the persistence of these changes. In the current study, we investigated to what extent changes in lifestyle and body weight were sustained after two years of restrictions. Methods We performed two representative online surveys among adults living in Germany. The first survey (S1) was performed in April 2021; the second survey (S2) in June 2022. The questionnaire focused on changes in physical activity, dietary habits, body weight, and mental stress levels. Furthermore, demographic and socioeconomic data were collected. The data were weighted to optimally represent the general population of Germany and results were descriptively compared between the two surveys. Furthermore, Chi-square tests and binomial logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with weight gain. Results A total of 1,001 (S1) and 1,005 (S2) adults completed the survey, of which 50.4% were men and 49.6% were women in both surveys. Mean age was 45.4 ± 14.4 years in S1 and 45.7 ± 14.5 years in S2. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.4 ± 6.0 kg/m² (S1) and 27.1 ± 5.5 kg/m² (S2). Reduced physical activity was reported by 52% of the participants in S1 and by 40% in S2. Moderate to severe stress was reported by 71% of the participants in S1 and by 62% in S2. Both surveys indicated that approximately one-third of the participants changed their dietary habits. Weight gain was reported by 40% of the participants in S1 and by 35% in S2; weight loss by 11% (S1) and by 15% (S2). Weight gain was associated with higher BMI, reduced physical activity levels, less healthy nutrition and increased consumption of energy-dense food. Conclusions Our results indicate that two years and three months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the adverse effects on health-related lifestyle factors and body weight still existed, albeit to a lesser degree than directly after the first year of the pandemic. Targeted strategies are needed to better support the population subgroups most likely to change their lifestyle when faced with disruptions of their everyday lives.