Title
Anti-COVID-19 measures threaten our healthy body weight: Changes in sleep and external synchronizers of circadian clocks during confinement
Date Issued
01 January 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Publisher(s)
Churchill Livingstone
Abstract
Background & aims: Emergency measures in the face of the recent COVID-19 pandemic have been different among countries, although most have opted for confinement and restrictions on social contact. These measures have generated lifestyle changes with potential effects on individuals' health. The disturbances in daily routines due to confinement and remote work have impacted circadian rhythms and energy balance; however, the consequences of these disruptions have not been studied in depth. The objective was to evaluate the impact of 12-week confinement on body weight, considering changes in several external synchronizers of the biological clock. Methods: The participants, 521 university students (16–35 years), responded to 52 questions oriented to determine light exposure, sleep patterns, sedentary lifestyle, and eating times. Results: We found a reduction in sunlight exposure and sleep duration, an increment in sedentarism and screen exposure, and a delay in the timing of the main meals and sleep in the whole cohort. These behavioral changes were associated with a twofold increase in obesity. Subjects who increased their sedentary hours and shortened their sleep to a higher degree were those who gained more bodyweight. The most influential factors in body weight variation during confinement were sleep duration, physical activity (sedentarism), and light (timing of screen exposure). The mediation model explained 6% of the total body weight variation. Conclusions: Results support a significant impact of confinement on several external synchronizers of the biological clock and on body weight. Health-related recommendations during the pandemic must include behavioral recommendations to mitigate the adverse effects on the biological clock.
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Sistema respiratorio Nutrición, Dietética Virología Psicología (incluye relaciones hombre-máquina)
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85109997799
Source
Clinical Nutrition
ISSN of the container
02615614
Sponsor(s)
This work has been supported in part by The Spanish Government of Investigation, Development and Innovation (SAF2017-84135-R) including FEDER co-funding; The Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia through the Seneca Foundation (20795/PI/18) and NIDDK R01DK105072 granted to M. Garaulet. In addition, P. González-Muniesa has received support from the CIBER Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Carlos III Health Research Institute (CB12/03/30002).
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus