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

Abstract

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/m2. 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