Is “stay-at-home” synonymous of inactivity? Factors related to sedentary lifestyle in a Brazilian sample during COVID-19 initial quarantine
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 7 April 2023
Issue publication date: 25 May 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle (<150 min of physical exercise/week) and associated factors of this behavior in Brazil.
Design/methodology/approach
An observational study was conducted through an online questionnaire in August–September 2020 (5.5 months after the beginning of the pandemic in the country). Socioeconomic, lifestyle, anthropometric, dietary and perceived stress data were evaluated as possible related factors to a sedentary lifestyle through multiple logistic regression analysis.
Findings
A total of 1,347 individuals were evaluated (median of 31 years old, 80.1% women), of whom 76.7% were considered sedentary. Associated factors to a sedentary lifestyle were being overweight; a greater difference between current weight and prepandemic weight; female sex; lower percentage of home-cooked meals; greater increase in the frequency of consumption of alcoholic beverages; higher frequency of consumption of cereals, sausages and sweets during the pandemic; and higher score of perceived stress.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no studies have aimed to reveal the associated factors to a sedentary lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Protective factors against a sedentary lifestyle were eating breakfast, being a student, living with parents, a higher frequency of fruit consumption, a higher rate of alcohol consumption and a higher cognitive restriction of food intake during the pandemic. Most of the study participants were sedentary, especially women. A sedentary lifestyle was associated with worse lifestyle/eating habits and stress. Such findings encourage an interdisciplinary approach because habits and lifestyle have numerous interferences.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are very grateful to the volunteers who participated in this study. All authors contribute substantially throughout the process of conception and design of the study. All authors carried out the critical review and approval of the final version of the paper. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Citation
Souza, T.C.d.M., Oliveira, L.A., Liboredo, J.C., Della Lucia, C.M., Ferreira, L.G., Daniel, M.M. and Anastácio, L.R. (2023), "Is “stay-at-home” synonymous of inactivity? Factors related to sedentary lifestyle in a Brazilian sample during COVID-19 initial quarantine", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 53 No. 4, pp. 781-792. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-11-2022-0390
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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