The same storm but not the same boat: Effects of COVID‐19 stay‐at‐home order on mental health in individuals with overweight

Lofrano‐Prado, Mara C.; do Prado, Wagner Luiz; Botero, Joao Paulo; Cardel, Michelle L.; Farah, Breno Q.; Oliveira, Max D.; Cucato, Gabriel G.; Correia, Marilia A.; Ritti‐Dias, Raphael M.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the effects of stay‐at‐home orders and social distancing during the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) outbreak on mental health and to compare these outcomes between individuals with normal weight and overweight. METHODS: This cross‐sectional study included 1857 Brazilian adults, who were invited through social media to answer an online questionnaire from 5 May 2020 to 17 May 2020. The instrument included questions related to health behaviour, mental health (anxiety, depression, self‐esteem, sadness and stress) and overall health. Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 Kg/m(2). Multiple logistic regression was conducted to identify whether overweight is associated with mental health variables. RESULTS: Women reported increased anxiety (36.5% vs 22.2%, P < .01), depression (16.2% vs 8.8%, P < .01), low self‐esteem (19.8% vs 10.6%, P < .01), sadness (17.7% vs 10.2%, P < .01), and stress (29.5% vs 19.3%, P < .01) relative to men. Women with overweight are more likely to report higher feeling of anxiety (OR 1.62, CI 95% 1.22‐2.14), depression (OR 1.79, CI 95% 1.25‐2.55), low self‐esteem (OR 1.82, CI95% 1.28‐2.58) and sadness (OR 1.51, CI 95% 1.08‐2.10), adjusted for age, social isolation days, educational level, chronic diseases, smoke, alcohol intake and physical activity. CONCLUSION: Women, specially those with overweight are more vulnerable to the deleterious effects of stay‐at‐home orders on mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic.