As many as 40% of Canadians have adopted poor lifestyle habits during the pandemic, according to a recent study released Monday.
According to this McGill University study, conducted among people aged 18 to 89, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have negatively impacted some people’s lifestyle behaviors.
Because if two in five Canadians estimate that they haven’t changed their lifestyle habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% of respondents admit to adopting less good behavior and end up experiencing poor eating habits, poor sleep quality, decreased physical activity, etc. to have weight gain.
“The good news is that the majority of participants maintained, if not improved, their lifestyle habits,” said Stéphanie Chevalier, associate professor at the School of Human Nutrition, who led the research team.
Perceptions of body image, changes in stress levels, and gender identity are factors associated with behavioral patterns, according to the study, published in the journal JMIR Public Health and Surveillance.
“Interestingly, people who reported dissatisfaction with their body image, suffered from depression or stress, or identified with a gender minority were more likely to have less healthy lifestyle choices,” added Anne-Julie Tessier, lead author of the study and research associate at the Harvard University.