Luis Baquerizo-Sedano1, José A Chaquila2, Luis Aguilar3, José M Ordovás4, Pedro González-Muniesa5, Marta Garaulet6. 1. Faculty of Health Sciences, San Ignacio de Loyola University, Av. La Molina 430, 15012, Lima, Peru. Electronic address: luis.baquerizo@usil.pe. 2. Faculty of Health Sciences, San Ignacio de Loyola University, Av. La Molina 430, 15012, Lima, Peru. 3. Institute of Food Sciences and Nutrition, San Ignacio de Loyola University, Av. La Molina 430, 15012, Lima, Peru. 4. JM-USDA-HNRCA at Tufts University, 419 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155, USA; IMDEA Food, Crta. de Canto Blanco Institute, 8, E-28049 Madrid, Spain. 5. University of Navarra; Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology; School of Pharmacy and Nutrition. C/ Irunlarrea, 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; University of Navarra, Center for Nutrition Research, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Pamplona, C/ Irunlarrea, 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; IdISNA- Navarra Institute for Health Research, C/ Irunlarrea, 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Monforte de Lemos, 5. Pabellón 12. 28029. Madrid, Spain. 6. Department of Physiology, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, s/n. 30100, Murcia, Spain; Medical Chronobiology Program, Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Research Biomedical Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca) 30120 El Palmar, Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: garaulet@um.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Emergency measures in the face of the recent COVID-19 pandemic have been different among countries, although most have opted for confinement and restrictions on social contact. These measures have generated lifestyle changes with potential effects on individuals' health. The disturbances in daily routines due to confinement and remote work have impacted circadian rhythms and energy balance; however, the consequences of these disruptions have not been studied in depth. The objective was to evaluate the impact of 12-week confinement on body weight, considering changes in several external synchronizers of the biological clock. METHODS: The participants, 521 university students (16-35 years), responded to 52 questions oriented to determine light exposure, sleep patterns, sedentary lifestyle, and eating times. RESULTS: We found a reduction in sunlight exposure and sleep duration, an increment in sedentarism and screen exposure, and a delay in the timing of the main meals and sleep in the whole cohort. These behavioral changes were associated with a twofold increase in obesity. Subjects who increased their sedentary hours and shortened their sleep to a higher degree were those who gained more bodyweight. The most influential factors in body weight variation during confinement were sleep duration, physical activity (sedentarism), and light (timing of screen exposure). The mediation model explained 6% of the total body weight variation. CONCLUSIONS: Results support a significant impact of confinement on several external synchronizers of the biological clock and on body weight. Health-related recommendations during the pandemic must include behavioral recommendations to mitigate the adverse effects on the biological clock.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Emergency measures in the face of the recent COVID-19 pandemic have been different among countries, although most have opted for confinement and restrictions on social contact. These measures have generated lifestyle changes with potential effects on individuals' health. The disturbances in daily routines due to confinement and remote work have impacted circadian rhythms and energy balance; however, the consequences of these disruptions have not been studied in depth. The objective was to evaluate the impact of 12-week confinement on body weight, considering changes in several external synchronizers of the biological clock. METHODS: The participants, 521 university students (16-35 years), responded to 52 questions oriented to determine light exposure, sleep patterns, sedentary lifestyle, and eating times. RESULTS: We found a reduction in sunlight exposure and sleep duration, an increment in sedentarism and screen exposure, and a delay in the timing of the main meals and sleep in the whole cohort. These behavioral changes were associated with a twofold increase in obesity. Subjects who increased their sedentary hours and shortened their sleep to a higher degree were those who gained more bodyweight. The most influential factors in body weight variation during confinement were sleep duration, physical activity (sedentarism), and light (timing of screen exposure). The mediation model explained 6% of the total body weight variation. CONCLUSIONS: Results support a significant impact of confinement on several external synchronizers of the biological clock and on body weight. Health-related recommendations during the pandemic must include behavioral recommendations to mitigate the adverse effects on the biological clock.
Authors: Luis Baquerizo-Sedano; J A Chaquila; Luis Aguilar; J M Ordovás; Pedro González-Muniesa; Marta Garaulet Journal: Clin Nutr Date: 2022-03-11 Impact factor: 7.324