Life habits of overweight and obesity in the pandemic period by COVID-19

Abstract

Background: the pandemic caused by COVID-19 forced the population to be confined and socially distanced for a long period of time, for which reason they opted to modify their lifestyle habits. The personnel most at risk of suffering changes in their daily lifestyles and habits were healthcare personnel. Objective: to identify the lifestyle habits predisposing to develop overweight and obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic in health personnel of the Pediatrics service of the Hospital General Ambato. Methods: observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study, using a survey comprising sociodemographic data, anthropometric measurements recorded in 2019 and 2022 from the occupational medical records of health personnel, and the FANTASTIC questionnaire, designed by the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University in Canada, adapted and validated by specialists in Spanish, to measure and identify the lifestyles of people. Results: 38,09 % have a normal body mass index in relation to a regular lifestyle, while one person had grade I obesity and presented a bad FANTASTIC, however, there is 28,57 % of the population with a regular lifestyle habit and overweight. Conclusions: the results of this study indicate that, during confinement, the dietary and lifestyle habits in health personnel of the Pediatrics service of the Ambato General Hospital underwent transitions, with a tendency towards regular eating habits and a tendency towards a more regular lifestyle