Changes in Physical Activity, Healthy Diet, and Sleeping Time during the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent social distancing orders may have changed health behaviors adversely. This study aims to examine changes in physical activity, diet, and sleep patterns during the pandemic in South Korea and to identify the factors influencing adverse changes in these behavioral indicators. Data from the Community Health Survey conducted in 2020 with a total of 229,269 adults were used, employing multivariate logistic regression and a classification and regression tree model. Participants reported decreased physical activity (49.6%), an increase in unhealthy diet (17.0%), and decreased sleep time (9.4%). Changes in adverse health behaviors were significantly related to being female, being in poor subjective health, not having hypertension or diabetes, engaging in other unhealthy behaviors, and complying with COVID-19 prevention guidelines. While those with adverse physical activity and unhealthy diet changes were younger and concerned about COVID-19 infection, the participants with adverse sleep changes were older, experienced economic stress (unemployed or recipients of basic living benefits), and had other unhealthy behaviors (obesity, severe stress, current smoking, and binge alcohol consumption). Public health efforts to intervene in these adverse health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic should target the variables shown to be significant in this study.