PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, EATING HABITS AND SLEEP DURING SOCIAL ISOLATION: FROM YOUNG ADULT TO ELDERLY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Social isolation is one of the strategies used to prevent the contagion and transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19), but it impacts on the daily routines and lifestyle of the population. Objective Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the physical activity, sleep and eating habits of adults and the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method A cross-sectional study with a sample comprising 135 participants, divided by age group. First, the whole group was divided into age groups with a 10-year cut-off. They were then characterized by sex, type of home, eating habits, sleep, and physical activity. For the second analysis, the participants were organized into three groups: young adults (18-40 years), middle-aged adults (41-60 years) and elderly (>60 years). An online questionnaire was sent to all the participants, with 26 questions focusing on eating habits, sleep, protective behaviors against COVID-19, and physical activity. Results The participants were mainly women (85.9%), external community (71.1%), students’ families (17.1%), teachers and staff (11.8%). Of the total participants, 40% were dedicated to home care activities and 21.1% had started working from home. The remainder (38.9%) were engaged in activities such as studying or caring for dependents. The younger age group (18-40 years old) reported spending more time in sedentary activities during the day, and 34.2% did not perform physical activity and ate lower quality food during social isolation (p<0.01). All groups, with the exception of the 30-40 age group (p <0.01) highlighted the importance of having the presence of a teacher responsible for guiding physical activities during isolation. Conclusion We conclude that, social isolation has more negative impact on the habits of the younger group. Cross-sectional study.