Impact of Lifestyle Interventions on Nutritional Status, Physical Activity and Sleep Pattern of Overweight and Obese 18 to 25 Year Old Women During Covid-19
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Date
2024-02
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Avinashilingam
Abstract
The present study lays the foundation for a more comprehensive investigation into
obesity, and the non-invasive, individualized, behaviour-change-based strategies intended to
treat this prevalent problem of health. The four objectives of the study were to: study the
socio-economic status, determine the nutritional status, lifestyle pattern including physical
activity, sleep quality, and Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of 18 to 25 year old
women; develop aerobic exercise routines and nutrition education modules as interventions;
and assess their impact on the above parameters. A total of 632 women participants, who
self-reported as aged between 18 and 25 years, had lived in Coimbatore for at least three
years, and their initial Body Mass Index (BMI) suggested that they were overweight or obese
were included as participants of the present study. Pre-tested and validated, structured
survey forms were used towards clinical, biochemical and dietary assessment. The Global
Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index assessed the subjects’
physical activity levels and sleep quality respectively. Subjects were randomly allocated to
either the control group (Group 0), the exercise intervention group which underwent exercise
for five days a week (Group 1), the nutrition education group which had 20-minute dietary
counselling every week (Group 2) or the combination of exercise and nutrition education
group (Group 3). The subjects were re-evaluated for their nutritional status, dietary habits,
level of physical activity, sleep quality, and KAP after six months. Multiple regression analysis
showed that educational awareness decreased body weight, BMI and Waist-to-Hip Ratio
(WHR). Exercise improved Skeletal Muscle Mass (SMM) by 2.7 kg and Basal Metabolic Rate
(BMR) by 0.5 kcals up to 60%. As a combined effect of 42%, weight, BMI, WHR, and
percentage of body fat significantly decreased while SMM and BMR increased (F=19.56,
p<0.001). Nutrition education intervention improved the haemoglobin content and lowered
the serum thyroid levels. Combining both interventions, random blood glucose, and thyroid
function parameters decreased while haemoglobin increased up to 48% (F=11.60, p<0.001).
Both the interventions combined significantly reduced dietary intake as well as improved the
sleep quality of the study subjects up to 44% (F=247.37, p<0.001). Thus, a combination of
exercise and nutrition education results in an overall enhancement in the women’s lifestyles
and the potential for long-term weight management by improving their nutritional status,
physical activity, and sleep quality.
Keywords: exercise, nutrition education, overnourished women, physical activity, sleep
quality
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Food Science and Nutrition