COVID-19 restrictions supported participants in weight loss program, but had negative impact on mood and behaviors

New analysis offered at this 12 months’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO2021, on-line, 10-13 May) concludes that the primary lockdown within the COVID-19 pandemic was an vital driver within the motivation to shed some pounds in contributors of an internet weight administration program began in late 2020. Some contributors related the lockdown with weight achieve by blocking social alternatives and entry to services, clarify the authors who embody Meigan Thomson of the University of Glasgow, UK, and colleagues.

“Behavioral weight loss packages have been proven to be efficient in bettering well being and weight outcomes in adults dwelling with weight problems,” clarify the authors. “The restrictions and adjustments imposed on the general public because of COVID-19 resulted in a brand new expertise and setting for weight reduction. The goal of this examine was to evaluate the perceived impression of the COVID-19 pandemic on participation and the burden loss journey.”

Semi-structured interviews had been carried out with 48 contributors. Participants had been predominantly feminine (83%) with a imply age of 49 years and a imply BMI of 31.6 kg/m2, falling within the overweight vary. Participants had been recruited from a 12-week on-line behavioral weight reduction program known as “Second Nature” (see particulars in hyperlink beneath). The program has a steady recruitment technique and new teams begin each week. Those contributors who began this system between late October and January they had been despatched an e-mail from this system explaining the examine with contact particulars of the examine authors, whom they may e-mail in the event that they had been glad to participate.

Interviews had been carried out mid-way by this system in November and December 2020. The interviews requested contributors about their boundaries and facilitators to their weight reduction journey and in regards to the function that COVID-19 had performed of their expertise. Specifically, contributors had been requested about weight problems as a threat issue for poorer COVID-19 outcomes and the impression the pandemic has had on their social life, setting, and weight.

The interviews revealed that COVID-19 performed a task in contributors weight reduction journeys earlier than and through this system. COVID-19 performed a task in weight gain, motivation, self-efficacy, and unhealthy temptations. Just underneath half (44%) of contributors attributed the “lockdown” restrictions earlier within the 12 months to weight achieve and 50% mentioned the primary lockdown had motivated them to shed some pounds.

Perceived threat of dwelling with weight problems or obese when it comes to poor outcomes if contaminated with coronavirus was a motivator for change 54% of these interviewed. Three quarters (75%) of contributors mentioned COVID-19 restrictions supported their weight reduction journey; nevertheless an identical proportion (69%) mentioned that the restrictions hindered their weight reduction journey. Just underneath half (46%) mentioned the pandemic had each helped and hindered their weight reduction efforts. Thus there have been many contributors who may see each optimistic and adverse results of the COVID-19 pandemic on their efforts.

Participants recognized adjustments to the house, work, and social environments as both facilitators or boundaries to the approach to life adjustments they had been attempting to make. Particularly, contributors reported having extra possession of their environment by being at dwelling extra (and for instance had been in a position to not hold any tempting unhealthy meals in the home), however mentioned that they had much less social help to assist them shed some pounds.

The authors say: “COVID-19 and the restrictions imposed had an impression on participant’s weight reduction journeys whereas collaborating in an internet behavioral weight reduction program with results on their efforts to eat healthily and in addition be bodily lively. The impression of the restrictions and data of the virus itself served to advertise motivation and conduct change.”

They conclude: “The findings present novel perception into participant experiences in a behavioral weight loss program throughout a pandemic. Such insights might be able to present recommendations on enhance on-line packages which could be accessed by those that are unable to, or desire to not, attend in-person packages.”

Provided by
European Association for the Study of Obesity