Body weight Changes among medical doctors during the  COVID-19 curfew: A cross-sectional survey

Dildar Haji  Musa; Bayar Ahmed  Qasim; Abd Almajid  Tahrani; Sherwan Ferman  Salih; Mazyar Jabbar  Ahmed

doi:10.56056/amj.2022.185

Authors

Dildar Haji Musa Assistant professor in clinical biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Duhok
Bayar Ahmed Qasim Assistant professor of endocrinology and diabetes, College of Medicine, University of Duhok
Abd Almajid Tahrani Assistant professor of General surgeon, College of Medicine, University of Duhok
Sherwan Ferman Salih Endocrinologist, Kurdistan higher Council of medical specialties, Hawler
Mazyar Jabbar Ahmed Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56056/amj.2022.185

Keywords:

Body weight, Medical doctors, Covid-19

Abstract

Background and objectives: The curfew implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic can affect several factors that contribute to energy balance, but the impact of the curfew on weight changes is unknown. We aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 curfew on body weight among doctors.

Methods: A survey of 380 doctors was conducted between the 15^th of March 2020 and the 20^th of April 2020. The survey participants were recruited from the staff of general teaching hospitals in the Kurdistan Region irrespective of the clinical origin. Three hundred and eighty doctors completed the questionnaire. The weight and height of all participants were determined at the beginning of the COVID-19 curfew and at the end of the curfew, and BMI was calculated.

Results: A total of 380 doctors from many regions of Kurdistan were included in this survey. Out of 380 doctors, 177 (47%) reported weight gain (75.2 ± 16.9 to 77.7 ± 17.1 Kg, (p:0.020), 116 (30%) reported weight loss (77.0 ± 14.1 to 74.4± 13.4 Kg, p:0.021) and 87 (23%) had no change in body weight. The study showed that the majority of subjects with weight loss 80 (69%), were those that had fewer hours of sleep (less than 6 hours sleep, p:0.010), compared to those with unchanged weight and weight gain groups (p:0.010, 18.1%, and 12.1% respectively).

Conclusion: The impact of the COVID-19 curfew on body weight among doctors was diverse, with almost half having weight gain and a third having weight loss. Identifying factors that contribute to weight changes during curfew could inform the planning of future similar situations.

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