The impact of living through COVID‐19 pandemic on mental health, food insecurity, loneliness and health behaviours in people with obesity

• Published in: Journal of human nutrition and dietetics 2023-06, Vol.36 (3), p.1011-1018
• Main Authors: Brown, Adrian, Flint, Stuart W., Dicken, Samuel J., Kalea, Anastasia Z., O'Kane, Mary, Williams, Simon, Wong, Erika, Batterham, Rachel L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Communicable Disease Control; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Demographic variables; Diet; Food; Food Insecurity; Food security; Health Behavior; Humans; Loneliness; Mental depression; Mental Health; Obesity; Obesity - epidemiology; Pandemics; Physical activity; Regression analysis; Regression models; Shopping; Sleep; Surveys; Weight Loss; Well being
• ISSN: 0952-3871; 1365-277X
• DOI: 10.1111/jhn.13120

Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has negatively impacted people living with obesity. The aim was to examine the continued impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mental health of people living with obesity and associations with food insecurity, loneliness and health‐related behaviours. Methods The study recruited 1187 UK adults living with obesity who completed an online survey, which examined mental health and associations with food insecurity, loneliness and health‐related behaviours from July 2020 (end of the first lockdown in the United Kingdom) to the point they completed the survey in 2021. Regression analyses were used to examine relationships between outcome variables and demographic factors, and hierarchical linear regression models were used to assess levels of loneliness, depression and well‐being. Results Participants reported worse loneliness, depression, well‐being and food insecurity compared to pre‐COVID. However, participants reported attempting to lose weight, healthier food shopping, diet and increased physical activity. Quality and quantity of sleep deteriorated compared to prior to COVID‐19. Conclusions Adults living with obesity in the United Kingdom report a continued negative impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic upon their mental health together with increased loneliness and food insecurity. However, our findings suggest that UK adults living with obesity have increased their engagement in positive health behaviours and were attempting to lose weight. The impact of living through COVID‐19 pandemic on mental health, food insecurity, loneliness and health behaviours in people with obesity Key points People living with obesity are actively attempting to improve their health‐related behaviours since the first COVID‐19 lockdown. Better mental health was associated with healthier food shopping and diet, increased physical activity and better sleep. Food insecurity and loneliness were higher among people living with obesity than previously reported in the general population. The findings have implications for policymakers and healthcare professionals regarding the importance of continuing mental health support and addressing food insecurity and loneliness, both now and as the pandemic evolves.