The Impact of Changes in Work Arrangements during COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyle of Qatar's Working Population

Abstract

Objectives:To explore the impact of changing work arrangements during COVID-19 on diet, physical activity, body weight, and sleep of Qatar's working population.Methods:A web-based survey targeting working adults who were residing in Qatar during the period of home confinement was conducted.Results:About 47% of 1061 participants reported weight gain. Higher proportions of participants reported consuming more fatty foods (P = 0.007), more sugary foods (P = 0.001), and greater increase in screen and sitting/reclining times (P < 0.001) among the work from home (WFH) group. Participants with higher adverse dietary changes score were more likely to report weight gain in both the WFH (adjusted OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.49), and working regularly groups (adjusted OR, 1.31, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.43) with P < 0.001.Conclusion:Qatar's working population experienced adverse lifestyle changes which were more prominent among those who shifted to WFH.