ABSTRACT
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to restricted vocational (Voc-PA) and recreational physical activity (Rec-PA) outside of the home. We conducted a nation-wide survey in the United States (US) during the mitigation peak of the pandemic (June 2020) to assess health-related changes from the previous year. A diet quality (DQ) assessment tool weighted the relative healthfulness of eating occasions from foods prepared-at-home (Home) and away-from-home (Away). Previously-validated instruments assessed PA and demographic variables; height/weight were self-reported to calculate body mass index (BMI). T-tests explored longitudinal, between-sex, and obesity status differences in DQ, PA, and BMI; Pearson correlations explored associations. Of 1648 respondents, 814 valid responses (56.8% female, 81.7% white) were analyzed. Overall and Home DQ was higher for females than males in 2020 (p < 0.001 for both). Respondents increased DQ from 2019 to 2020, primarily from Away (p < 0.001 for both sexes). Total Rec-PA and Voc-PA was higher in males (p = 0.002, p < 0.001) than females in 2020; females reported higher other PA (p = 0.001). Change in BMI was inversely associated with change in both DQ and PA (p < 0.001 for both). In this sample of US adults, early adaptations to the COVID-19 pandemic included improved DQ and BMI. Whether these short-term improvements were maintained warrant further investigation.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Adult , Body Mass Index , COVID-19/epidemiology , Diet , Exercise , Female , Humans , Male , United States/epidemiology , Weight LossABSTRACT
Little has been published regarding postgraduate assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an urgent need to graduate well-trained specialists including family physicians who play a key role in patient care. The successes and challenges encountered in mounting qualifying 2020 Family Medicine examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic at the University of the West Indies are described in this paper. Human resource, planning, use of technology and virtual environments are discussed, which enabled successful examinations at this multicampus regional site.