Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Dietary habits, Lifestyle and Psychological Well-being Among Medical Students: A Cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns disrupted daily routines and lifestyle behaviors worldwide, with medical students representing a particularly vulnerable population. This study aimed to assess changes in physical activity, dietary habits, sedentary behavior, and psychological well-being among undergraduate medical students during lockdown. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 44 undergraduate medical students. Data were collected on anthropometric measurements, physical activity patterns (vigorous, moderate, walking), dietary behaviors (meal frequency, fast food consumption, late-night snacking, breakfast skipping, binge eating), screen time, sitting duration, and happiness scores using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. Statistical analysis included paired t-tests, chi-square tests, Pearson/Spearman correlations, and linear and logistic regression analyses. Results: Mean age was 19.5±1.0 years (68.2% male). Significant mean weight gain of 2.2 kg was observed (t(39)=4.56, p<0.001). Median daily screen time was 7.0 hours (IQR:5.0-10.0) and median sitting time was 7.0 hours (IQR:5.0-10.0). Breakfast skipping was reported by 68.2% and binge eating by 54.5%. Sitting time showed moderate positive correlation with weight gain (r=0.35, p=0.03) and was a significant predictor in linear regression (β=0.32, p=0.02). Binge eating was associated with nearly three-fold higher odds of low happiness scores (OR=2.8, 95%CI:1.1-7.2, p=0.03). Conclusions: Lockdown was associated with significant weight gain, increased sedentary behavior, and adverse dietary changes among medical students. The strong association between binge eating and lower happiness scores highlights the need for integrated interventions addressing both physical and mental health in this population.