2023-05-30 15:43:52
On the other hand, this means that four out of ten Canadians have seen their lifestyle deteriorate during the health crisis. Among the risk factors that were identified, dissatisfaction with body image increased almost nine times the risk of having adopted poorer lifestyle habits during the crisis; depression and increased stress levels have also been implicated.
“Our study provided us with information to target people who are at risk of deteriorating their lifestyle,” said the study’s lead author, researcher Anne-Julie Tessier, who completed this work in the as part of his doctoral studies at McGill University and who is now pursuing post-doctoral studies at Harvard University’s TH Chan School of Public Health.
“Afterwards, it will be important to warn if ever there is another similar situation that arises.”
The researchers studied 1609 participants between the months of May and December 2020. The subjects were from all age groups and from all regions of Canada.
Sixty percent of participants reported an increase in their level of physical activity, stable or improved eating habits, and unchanged weight, sleep quality, and smoking. The researchers point out, however, that the members of this group were more physically active from the start of the study, which might explain what was observed followingwards.
The other group, those whose lifestyle habits have deteriorated, show poorer quality food and sleep, a reduced level of physical activity and weight gain.
Physical activity
It is difficult to understand why some have seen their level of physical activity increase or their diet improve during the pandemic, while others have gone in the opposite direction.
“What was striking is really that each individual, according to a package of factors specific to them, is what will determine the progress or the change in lifestyle in a crisis situation, such as a pandemic, has said Madame Tessier. So you can’t know exactly how a person will react.”
Telecommuting thus appears to have encouraged some Canadians to cook more of their own meals and to avoid dining out. But at the same time, restricted access to groceries and fresh food appears to have caused other Canadians to eat less well.
In total, 23% of participants said that their eating habits had improved during the pandemic, while 44% admitted that they had deteriorated.
Satisfaction with body image is the factor that has had the greatest impact on changing lifestyle habits during the pandemic.
About 44% of subjects said they were unhappy with their body image during the pandemic, a phenomenon particularly marked among women and gender minorities. Other studies have indicated that people who are dissatisfied with their body image may have poorer mental health and poorer lifestyle habits, such as lower levels of physical activity.
It is also possible, the study authors point out, that subjects who were initially dissatisfied with their body image have adopted a more unhealthy lifestyle during the pandemic.
“I think what was missing for this pandemic was to have a plan that targets people at risk with resources and support, concluded Ms. Tessier. These adults must be targeted (with) multidisciplinary intervention resources (…) to regain or maintain good mental and physical health.”
The findings of this study were published by the medical journal JMIR Public Health and Surveillance.
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