OBJECTIVE: the COVID-19 pandemic, by restricting population mobility, may exacerbate the risk factors for weight gain associated with physical inactivity and increased consumption of calorie-dense foods The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the risk factors related to self-reported body weight gain among obese subjects METHODS: the study involved a population of 284 adult obese subjects After a 7-week confinement period starting on March 17, a telephone interview (May 4 through 7) was conducted In this phone call, self-reported body weight gain and a number of factors were recorded In order to obtain the baseline data of this population, biochemical and anthropometric parameters were collected from electronic medical records RESULTS: mean age was 60 4 ± 10 8 years (range: 23-71) and mean body mass index (BMI) was 35 4 ± 4 7 kg/m2 (range: 30 6-41 2) Gender distribution was 211 females (74 3 %) and 73 males (25 7 %) Self-reported body weight gain was 1 62 ± 0 2 kg Among patients who reported doing a lot of exercise self-reported body weight gain was lower (1 62 ± 0 2 vs 1 12 ± 0 3 kg;p = 0 02) Regarding eating habits, patients recognized snacking in 17 % of the sample Patients who reported snacking had higher self-reported body weight gains (2 60 ± 0 36 vs 1 30 ± 0 17 kg;p = 0 001) The remaining variables did not influence self-reported body weight gain In the multiple regression analysis with self-reported body weight gain as dependent variable, adjusted for age, sex, and physical activity, the snaking habit remained a risk factor: beta = 1 21 (95 % CI: 0 31-2 13;p = 0 01) CONCLUSIONS: the lockdown decreed during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has produced an increase in self-reported body weight among obese subjects, which was related to the habit of taking snacks
Effect of lockdown for COVID-19 on self-reported body weight gain in a sample of obese patients