The Impact of Changes in Work Arrangements During COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyle of Qatar's Working Population. Issue 2 (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abed Alah, Muna; Abdeen, Sami; Kehyayan, Vahe; Bougmiza, Iheb
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 64:Issue 2(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- diet -- lifestyle -- physical activity -- Qatar -- work from home; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002443
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

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. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the textWorking from home might become the "new normal" or it might be imposed during any public health crises or potential future outbreaks. Thus, organizations need to adapt their polices and rules to fit this new work environment in a way that ensures the health, wellbeing, and safety of their employees.