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

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 15th of March 2020 and the 20th 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.