FRI053 Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Weight And Lifestyle In Patients From The Endocrinology Department In Uruguay
Authors: Rotundo Carlos , Maguna Victoria , Martinez Belen , Larrea Florencia , Langlois Nicole , Lopez Paola , Agüero Patricia , Pineyro Maria Mercedes 
Published: October 2023

Disclosure: C. Rotundo: None. V. Maguna: None. B. Martinez: None. F. Larrea: None. N. Langlois: None. P. Lopez: None. P. Agüero: None. M.M. Pineyro: None.

In Uruguay, on March 13 of 2020 the government decreed a “Health Emergency” due to the COVID 19 pandemic with voluntary confinement, which ended on April 5, 2022. Social isolation, with temporary closure of workplaces, restaurants, gyms and other public spaces abruptly changed the lifestyle of the population. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the pandemic on physical activity, body weight, quantity and quality of food, and sleep habits in patients that attended the Endocrinology Department of our Hospital from July to September of 2022. We performed an observational-descriptive-cross-sectional study that included 93 patients. A survey about eating habits, physical activity and sleep was performed and anthropometric measurements (height, weight) were taken. Results: The median age was 60 years (range 21-83), 63.4% female. Fifty-eight percent of patients had HTN, 50.5% diabetes mellitus, 37.6% thyroid disease and 32.3% dyslipidemia. Between the period before the pandemic and the pandemic, patients gained 0.6 kg (p=0.71), between the pandemic and after it they gained 1.5 kg (p=0.88). Pre-pandemic and post-pandemic the increase was of 2.1 kg (p=0.32). A significant increase in obesity was found before and after the pandemic (26.9% vs. 36.6%, p&lt;0.0001). Fifty-six percent performed physical exercise before the pandemic, during the pandemic it decreased to 38.7% (p=0.0001), at the expense of aerobic exercise (27% decrease, p=0.0001). Before the pandemic, 39.8% met the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week, which decreased to 22.6% during the pandemic (p=0.0001). Thirty-one point two percent reported changing eating habits (increased snacks, processed foods, fruits, vegetables and sugary drinks), and 30% consumed more food at night. The number of hours of sleep in both periods was the same (median 7 hours). We found a significant increase in problems falling asleep (5.4%, p=0.0001) and staying asleep (9.7%, p=0.0001). Conclusion: We found a negative effect of the covid-19 pandemic confinement on the frequency of obesity, levels of physical activity and unfavorable changes in eating habits and sleep. A significant increase in obesity was found, as well as a decrease in physical activity in a quarter of the population, and a significant increase in problems falling asleep and staying asleep. In addition, we observed unfavorable changes in food consumption in a third of the population (increase in snacks, processed food, and sugary drinks). However, we found healthy changes during the pandemic, such as increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. These changes can have significant short- and long-term consequences on health of the population. The promotion of measures to recover and maintain healthy lifestyle habits is required, as well as to counteract the impact of lockdown on weight gain to prevent the long-term effects of the pandemic on health.

Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023