Mohammad Faramarzi; Majid Mardaniyan Ghahfarrokhi; Zahra Hemati Farsani; Zahra Raisi; Maryam Jamali; Julien S. Baker
Abstract
Background and aims: Decreased levels of physical activity (PA) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can cause physical and psychological problems for individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PA, body image, and eating disorders (EDs) ...
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Background and aims: Decreased levels of physical activity (PA) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can cause physical and psychological problems for individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PA, body image, and eating disorders (EDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic among high school girls in Farsan, Iran. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, and the research population included female high school students from Farsan, Iran, who were studying in 2019-2020. In this regard, 535 high school girls (age: 15.95 ± 1.42, weight: 53.07 ± 10.01, BMI: 20.14 ± 3.48) were selected based on cluster-random sampling to participate in the study. Multidimensional Body Self-relation Questionnaire (MBSRQ), Baecke’s Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (EDDS) were used to collect data, and Pearson correlation coefficients were administered to establish statistical relationships. Results: The results indicated significant positive correlations between body image and PA levels (r = 0.304, P = 0.001). However, no significant correlations were observed between body image and anorexia nervosa (AN) (r = -0.035, P = 0.424), bulimia nervosa (BN) (r = -0.033, P = 0.446), and binge ED (r = -0.041, P = 0.339). Likewise, no relationships were observed between PA and AN (r = 0.084, P = 0.052), BN (r = 0.073, P = 0.092), as well as binge ED (r = 0.071, P = 0.099). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, PA was positively associated with body image but not with EDs. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that PA improved body image in adolescent girls during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Epidemiology
Sajad Bagherian; Majid Mardaniyan Ghahfarrokhi; Ebrahim Banitalebi
Abstract
Background and aims: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), immediate self-quarantine is assumed as the best course of action for highly contagious diseases. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many individuals have become overweight and are also suffering from physical ...
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Background and aims: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), immediate self-quarantine is assumed as the best course of action for highly contagious diseases. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many individuals have become overweight and are also suffering from physical problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on interest in home-based exercise. Methods: This digital epidemiological study used data sources outside the health system. This descriptive study with a comprehensive electronic systematic search in the Google Trends database using the keyword of “home-based exercise” retrieved the relevant data about the Internet search activity of Iranian community members. The data were accordingly obtained within two time intervals, i.e., from February 18, 2020 to October 18, 2020 and eight months prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 (June 18, 2019 to February 18, 2020). To analyze the data, the Wilcoxon test and the Spearman’s correlation coefficient were used. Results: The results showed significant increase in “home-based exercise” Google search in the eight-month time interval during COVID-19 compared with the same period before the pandemic (P < 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between “home-based exercise” Google search and positive COVID-19 cases in the time intervals of February 18, 2020 to April 18, 2020 (r = 0.756, P = 0.0001), April 18, 2020 to June 18, 2020 (r = -461, P = 0.0001), but not June 18, 2020 to August 18, 2020 (r = 0.044, P = 0.737), August 18, 2020 to October 18, 2020 (r = 0.246, P = 0.056), and over time (r = -0.083, P = 0.0195). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of the COVID-19 pandemic and social constraints including self-quarantine seem to have raised people’s interest in doing exercises, especially home-based exercises.
Immunology
Majid Mardaniyan Ghahfarrokhi; Ebrahim Banitalebi; Mohammad Faramarzi; Mansooreh Ghorbanpoor Dashtaki; Conrad P. Earnest
Abstract
The prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 in China and subsequently in most countries of the world has become the most important health problem and has declared a state of emergency in many countries. According to the WHO (April 10, 2020), positive cases have been observed in all countries of the world, ...
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The prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 in China and subsequently in most countries of the world has become the most important health problem and has declared a state of emergency in many countries. According to the WHO (April 10, 2020), positive cases have been observed in all countries of the world, and its prevalence is increasing sharply, as health systems in many countries have announced a pandemic situation. Finally, as of April 10, 2020, 66220 positive cases and 4110 deaths have been registered, making Iran one of the most infected countries in the world and having the highest number in the region. Given the lack of available vaccines and essential remedies for the virus, numerous articles have been written on providing important scientific information on the virus. Key questions about the modes and mechanisms of transmission, incubation period, level of risk, and effective treatment are still under discussion. Due to the unprecedented outbreak and the state of emergency, many countries including Iran have adopted safeguards including near-total closing of the cities, flight cancellations, closing the schools for long time, and closing the public places such as sport clubs. On the other hand, given China’s successful experience in controlling the epidemic, measures such as self-quarantine are key to the prevention agenda. However, this disrupts the daily activities of millions of people worldwide, as well as in Iran. It is well known that self-quarantine is naturally associated with reduced levels of daily physical activities. Staying home is accompanied by behaviors such as prolonged lying and sitting, watching TV, and using mobile phone. Concurrently, the likelihood of increasing food and calorie intake in inactive conditions is inevitable. Consequently, a reduction in physical activity, and a decrease in resting energy expenditure accompanied by an increase in calorie intake, could increase the risks associated with sedentarism. Hence, while long-term homestay is clearly recognized as an effective and safe preventive measure regarding the spread of virus, inactive lifestyle can lead to detrimental physiological changes including weight gain and metabolic diseases, as well as psychological changes including depression and aggression that may continue until after the end of the disease.