| Abstrakt: |
Simple Summary: Humans exhibit varied responses to natural disasters, including pandemics. Some increase their health behavior, while others decrease it. These differences are studied within the framework of the life history theory, where reactions to environmental challenges depend on age, sex, and socioeconomic status. We investigated diet, physical activity, and BMI in a Swiss population during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We found no changes in health behaviors or BMI at this time. However, we found constant sex differences in several outcomes. While physical activity was associated with a lower BMI in both sexes, women showed an increase in BMI with increasing age, while men showed a lower BMI with a healthier diet and if living in cities. As our study population consisted of mostly highly educated persons, our results could indicate that better-educated persons might be more resilient to environmental challenges. Furthermore, our results might inform sex-specific efforts to prevent becoming overweight at the population level. Humans adapt their life history strategy and lifestyle behavior to the environment. The social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the years 2020–2021 led to changes in diet and physical activity habits in large parts of populations worldwide. Additionally, many people reported an increase in body weight during the pandemic. We investigated how diet quality, physical activity, and BMI changed since the end of the COVID-19 restrictions in Switzerland (2019–2023). We assessed diet and physical activity using a standardized questionnaire. We measured anthropometry and BMI using a stadiometer and a balance of a medical bioimpedance analyzer. Our results show a stable BMI in men and women during the pandemic. In both sexes, diet quality and physical activity levels did not change significantly during this time. Among women, physical activity and age were associated with BMI, while in men, apart from physical activity, high diet quality and living in the agglomeration were associated with BMI. Overall, we did not find evidence for a transient "unhealthier" lifestyle immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we found constituent sex differences in BMI determinants. Our results could indicate a higher resilience in highly educated persons and might contribute to more personalized approaches to prevent obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
