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Health Promotion in Relation to Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Era of Sars-Cov2 Pandemic

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2022) | Viewed by 41537

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Prof. Dr. Alessandra Sannella

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Guest Editor

Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Interests: sustainable development; climate change; public health; inequality; migration phenomenon and health; violence

Prof. Dr. Cristina Cortis

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Co-Guest Editor

Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino and Lazio Meridionale, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Interests: sport performance; athlete’s stress management; ageing wellbeing
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Dear Colleagues,

In the context of contemporary society, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has created a megatrend on a planetary scale that has greatly changed the quality of daily life of the global population, with the first event in the history of humanity that can be considered as a “total social fact” (Mauss: 1924). In addition to this, the crisis caused by COVID-19 and the lack of an organic vision has underlined the importance of a public health system that can respond to the complexity of its surrounding environment. Such complex needs make it necessary to provide complex and immediate answers. In fact, in addition to the direct damage caused by the virus, we have been able to record problems related to “secondary causes of COVID” such as changes in eating habits, sedentary behaviors, sports, and motor activities. The “secondary causes” identified here are to be interpreted as the possibility of increasing one’s exposure to the risk of damage caused by the “imperfect storm” of the pandemic. Causes which worsen the state of health, such as environment and lifestyle, could also be recorded. These elements were recorded both during and after the lockdown phases in most of the countries affected by COVID-19. Therefore, it is necessary to change harmful attitudes in both individual and public health in order to achieve the goal of a complete state of well-being and not just the absence of disease, which is in accordance with the UN Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Reflection requires an environment of consilience and an orchestration of science (Whewell 1840) which is also in line with the principle of the Prevent–Detect–Respond strategy (WHO: 2018). Specifically, transdisciplinary contributions related to the possibility of educating people towards a cultural change of lifestyle that can improve the quality of the population on a universal scale are required.

Prof. Dr. Alessandra Sannella
Prof. Dr. Cristina Cortis
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Public health
Covid19
Sustainable development
Behaviour
Physical Activity
Inequality
Nutrition

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Home-Based Frailty Prevention Program for Older Women Participants of Kayoi-No-Ba during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Feasibility Study

by Ryota Watanabe, Masayo Kojima, Mikako Yasuoka, Chieko Kimura, Koto Kamiji, Takahiro Otani, Shoko Tsujimura, Hitomi Fujita, Akane Nogimura, Sae Ozeki, Aiko Osawa and Hidenori Arai

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6609; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116609 - 28 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2351

Abstract

This study presents a single-arm intervention that aimed to determine the feasibility of a three-month home-based exercise program to prevent the progression of frailty during COVID-19. We recruited four groups of Kayoi-no-ba, or community salons for frailty prevention, and a total of 69 community-dwelling older women who belonged to one of the Kayoi-no-ba in a preliminary study for a follow-up study. The intervention program was developed on the basis of the 5A approach, and the focus group by the volunteer leaders of Kayoi-no-ba. We adapted the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Home Exercise Program for Older People for 10-min daily home-based exercise. For feasibility outcomes, 91.3% of the participants completed the intervention program, whereas the percentage of exercise performed was 86.5% during the intervention period. For health-related outcomes, the five times sit-to-stand test exhibited significant improvement after the intervention. The results of feasibility outcomes indicate that the program may be feasible due to the high rates of completion and exercise performed. Additionally, improvement was noted for the health indicators of the five times sit-to-stand test, which may help prevent frailty. The feasibility trial has provided the necessary data to design a future-cluster randomized controlled trial. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion in Relation to Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Era of Sars-Cov2 Pandemic)

17 pages, 411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Physical Activity Levels and Eating Behaviours during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Sociodemographic Analysis in University Students

by Maria Ferrara, Elisa Langiano, Lavinia Falese, Pierluigi Diotaiuti, Cristina Cortis and Elisabetta De Vito

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5550; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095550 - 03 May 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3329

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools and universities to shift their activities online, influencing the adoption of health-related behaviours such as physical activity and healthy dietary habits. The present study investigates the changes in adherence to a healthy diet and regular physical activity in university students in Italy before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and understands the role of sociodemographic variables in creating the changes above. We conducted a repeated cross-sectional survey performing the same sampling strategy at the first data collection (T0) and second data collection (T1) with a combination of convenience and snowball sampling approaches. The sample is composed of a total of 2001 students, 60.2% women and 39.8% men, with an average age of 22.7 (±5.5 SD). At T1, 39.9% of the students reported regular physical activity. During the pandemic, however, many, especially male students, abandoned or reduced physical activity practice (T1 40%), with an increase in social media use (T0 52.1%; T1 90%). A direct association between very low frequency of physical activity and increased sedentary time (r = 0.2, p = 0.001) and between change in dietary style and increased Body Mass Index (BMI) value (r = 0.3, p = 0.002) was found. The multivariate analysis for the total sample showed that some sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, parents’ level of education, area of study, household type, and perception of one’s body influence eating behaviours and physical activity. Our findings suggest that universities should invest in the protection and promotion of the health of their students with specific awareness programmes, and further research should repeat the survey in the post-lockdown period to investigate the long-term effects on health-related behaviours. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion in Relation to Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Era of Sars-Cov2 Pandemic)

10 pages, 319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical Activity Behaviors and Physical Work Capacity in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Grzegorz Bielec and Aneta Omelan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(2), 891; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020891 - 14 Jan 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2704

Abstract

Objective. The COVID-19 pandemic led to restricted access to sports and recreation facilities, resulting in a general decrease in physical activity. Many studies present the results of on-line questionnaires conducted during the pandemic, but there are few reports of objectively measured indicators of physical condition. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the changes in physical work capacity, body composition, and physical activity behaviors in university students during 14 weeks of lockdown. Material and Methods. Twenty students of Tourism and Recreation (13 female and 7 male) participated in the study. The first examination was conducted in November 2020, and the second in March 2021. Body composition was assessed with a Tanita 418 MA device. The students performed the PWC 170 cycling test and completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short version) on-line. Results. Neither physical work capacity nor body composition parameters changed substantially during the analyzed period. In the female students, vigorous physical activity decreased significantly, but no substantial changes occurred in weekly metabolic equivalent of task. In male students, walking days and metabolic equivalent of task decreased, but the changes were not significant. Conclusions. Fourteen weeks of COVID-19 lockdown had little effect on the body composition, physical work capacity level, and physical activity habits of Tourism and Recreation students. Studies with larger groups of participants should verify the current conclusions, and care should be taken when extrapolating to other populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion in Relation to Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Era of Sars-Cov2 Pandemic)

14 pages, 338 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Social Isolation on Physical Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic in France

by Alessandro Porrovecchio, Pedro R. Olivares, Philippe Masson, Thierry Pezé and Linda Lombi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5070; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105070 - 11 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2828

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional study is to analyze the changes in physical activity (PA) practice of a sample of 2099 French adults, mostly females, who answered an online questionnaire during the first COVID-19 lockdown (March–May 2020). A descriptive analysis of participants was performed using relative frequencies. Chi-squared tests were performed to compare the responses of selected variables. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed to compare the variations of PA with all the variables identified. The age of participants ranged from 18 to 88. Among people who practiced PAs before the first lockdown, the probability to keep practicing PAs is higher among those with a lower level of education, among housewives and retirees and among those who lived in cities of 10,000–19,999 inhabitants. For those who did not practice PAs before the social distancing, the probability of starting to practice is greater in those with a lower level of education and for those who suffered from a chronic disease. Our results place the emphasis on the complexity and multifactoriality of the changes that emerged during the first lockdown. The “education” factor emerges, as a significant determinant of PA that should certainly be explored further. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion in Relation to Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Era of Sars-Cov2 Pandemic)

12 pages, 607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Cross-Country Examination on the Fear of COVID-19 and the Sense of Loneliness during the First Wave of COVID-19 Outbreak

by Gianluca Lo Coco, Ambra Gentile, Ksenija Bosnar, Ivana Milovanović, Antonino Bianco, Patrik Drid and Saša Pišot

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2586; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052586 - 05 Mar 2021

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 4139

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to examine gender, age. and cross-country differences in fear of COVID-19 and sense of loneliness during the lockdown, by comparing people from those countries with a high rate of infections and deaths (e.g., Spain and Italy) and from countries with a mild spread of infection (e.g., Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina). A total of 3876 participants (63% female) completed an online survey on “Everyday life practices in COVID-19 time” in April 2020, including measures of fear of COVID-19 and loneliness. Males and females of all age groups in countries suffering from the powerful impact of the COVID-19 pandemic reported greater fear of COVID-19 and sense of loneliness. In less endangered countries, females and the elderly reported more symptoms than males and the young; in Spanish and Italian samples, the pattern of differences is considerably more complex. Future research should thoroughly examine different age and gender groups. The analysis of emotional well-being in groups at risk of mental health issues may help to lessen the long term social and economic costs due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion in Relation to Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Era of Sars-Cov2 Pandemic)

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Review

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13 pages, 389 KiB

Open AccessReview

Micronutrient Deficiency as a Confounder in Ascertaining the Role of Obesity in Severe COVID-19 Infection

by Brian A. Chu, Vijaya Surampudi, Zhaoping Li, Christina Harris, Teresa Seeman, Keith C. Norris and Tara Vijayan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1125; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031125 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2911

Abstract

Food insecurity in the United States has been exacerbated due to the socioeconomic strain of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Populations experiencing poverty and, as a consequence, food insecurity in the United States are disproportionately affected by obesity, which was identified early in the pandemic as a major risk factor for increased susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and mortality. Given the focus on obesity and its role in immune dysregulation, it is also important to note the role of micronutrient deficiency, another sequalae of food insecurity. Micronutrients play an important role in the ability of the immune system to mount an appropriate response. Moreover, OBESE individuals are more likely to be micronutrient deficient. This review will explore the role of micronutrients, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc in respiratory immunity and COVID-19 and how micronutrient deficiency may be a possible confounder in obesity’s association with severe outcomes. By illuminating the role of micronutrients in COVID-19, this paper expands the discussion from food insecurity and obesity to include micronutrient deficiency and how all of these interact in respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion in Relation to Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Era of Sars-Cov2 Pandemic)

8 pages, 321 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

Will Nothing Be the Same Again?: Changes in Lifestyle during COVID-19 Pandemic and Consequences on Mental Health

by Emanuele Caroppo, Marianna Mazza, Alessandra Sannella, Giuseppe Marano, Carla Avallone, Angelo Emilio Claro, Delfina Janiri, Lorenzo Moccia, Luigi Janiri and Gabriele Sani

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(16), 8433; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168433 - 10 Aug 2021

Cited by 97 | Viewed by 13715

Abstract

Social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected lifestyles: from sedentary behaviors to reduced physical activity, from disrupted sleep patterns to altered dietary habits. As a consequence, serious mental and emotional responses have been registered. There was a significant decline in physical and other meaningful activities of daily living, leisure, social activity, and education. In children, collateral effects of the pandemic include inadequate nutrition with a risk of both overweight and underweight, addiction to screens, lack of schooling, and psychosocial difficulties. Older adults are frequently unable to adapt to lockdown measures and suffer from depression and cognitive complaints. Recent studies focusing on changes in lifestyle during the Covid-19 pandemic and consequences on mental health have been identified in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and ScienceDirect. All the available literature has been retrospectively reviewed. The results of the present narrative review suggest that mental distress caused by social isolation seems to be linked not only to personality characteristics but also to several lifestyle components (sleep disruption, altered eating habits, reduced physical activity). This review aims to explore major changes in the lifestyle and quality of life and the impact of these changes on mental health, and to inform clinicians and policymakers about elements that may reduce the negative psychological effects of the quarantine period imposed during this worldwide crisis. There is an urgent need for tailored preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic mental health interventions for the general population and for higher risk groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion in Relation to Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Era of Sars-Cov2 Pandemic)

21 pages, 627 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Well-Being of Adults with Physical Disabilities and/or Chronic Diseases during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Review

by Diederik R. de Boer, Femke Hoekstra, Kimberley I. M. Huetink, Trynke Hoekstra, Leonie A. Krops and Florentina J. Hettinga

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6342; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126342 - 11 Jun 2021

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5533

Abstract

Background: People with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases report lower levels of physical activity and well-being than the general population, which potentially is exacerbated through the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored the international literature on physical activity, sedentary behavior and well-being in adults with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases during the first wave of the pandemic. Method: In a rapid review, we included studies reporting on physical activity, sedentary behavior and/or well-being in adults with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases. Four databases (Pubmed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Embase) were searched for studies published until 30 September 2020. Results: We included twenty-nine studies involving eleven different types of disabilities or health conditions from twenty-one different countries. Twenty-six studies reported on physical activity, of which one reported an increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, four studies reported no difference, and twenty-one studies reported a decrease. Thirteen studies reported a decline in well-being. Only one study measured sedentary behavior, reporting an increase. Conclusion: Despite the variety in methods used, almost all studies reported negative impacts on physical activity and well-being in people with physical disabilities and/or chronic disease during the first wave of the pandemic. These findings highlight the importance of supporting this population, especially in times of crisis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion in Relation to Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Era of Sars-Cov2 Pandemic)

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Other

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14 pages, 1595 KiB

Open AccessProtocol

FOODLIT-Trial: Protocol of a Randomised Controlled Digital Intervention to Promote Food Literacy and Sustainability Behaviours in Adults Using the Health Action Process Approach and the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Raquel Rosas, Filipa Pimenta, Isabel Leal and Ralf Schwarzer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3529; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063529 - 16 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2622

Abstract

Dietary quality and sustainability are central matters to the international community, emphasised by the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. To promote healthier and more sustainable food-related practices, the protocol of a web-based intervention to enhance adults’ food literacy is presented. The FOODLIT-Trial is a two-arm, parallel, experimental, and single-blinded randomised controlled trial delivered over 11 weeks. Based on the Food Literacy Wheel framework and supported by the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) and the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy, weekly content with customised behaviour change techniques (experimental group) is hypothesised to be more effective to promote food behaviour change when compared to a single-time and non-customised delivery of food-related international guidelines, with no theoretically informed approaches (comparison group). Primary outcome is food literacy, including food-related knowledge, skills, and behaviours, assessed with the FOODLIT-Tool; a secondary outcome includes psychological mechanisms that efficaciously predict change in participants’ food literacy, measured with HAPA-driven items. Enlisted through online sources, participants will be assessed across five time points (baseline, post-intervention, and 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-ups, i.e., T0–T4). A randomisation check will be conducted, analyses will follow an intention-to-treat approach, and linear two-level models within- (T0–T4) and between-level (nested in participants) will be computed, together with a longitudinal mediation analysis. If effective, the FOODLIT-Trial will provide for a multidimensional and cost-effective intervention to enable healthier and more sustainable food practices over the long term. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion in Relation to Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Era of Sars-Cov2 Pandemic)

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