Eating habits and physical activity before and during the health emergency due to COVID-19 in Quito – Ecuador

COVID-19 has managed to paralyze the world for months, this paralysis has caused great changes in the habits, customs and routines of all people. Although science is directed to getting a vaccine to return to normality, these changes may remain in the population. For this reason, it is essential to identify them and observe what has improved or worsened. The IPAQ questionnaire (international physical activity questionnaire) was used to analyze physical activity and regarding food consumption a questionnaire on eating habits. These were applied in a representative sample of adults between 18 and 65 years old in the city of Quito (n: 1022) to collect information before and during the forced quarantine in the city. These data were analyzed and compared along with daily routines and demographic variables of age, education and income. Our working hypothesis was that enforced quarantine would have a significant impact on daily activities, including waking time, mealtimes, physical activity, and eating habits. Waking time went from 5 to 6 to 8–9 in the morning and the breakfast and lunch times changed. The physical activity of the entire population decreased while men proved to be more active than women before and during the health emergency. Our findings suggested that eating habits improved overall during the quarantine period; however, we found that a higher percentage of women reported very healthy eating habits compared to men. People from 18 to 41 years old, with a university education, regardless of their income, decreased their physical activity during quarantine, people with incomes of up to $ 400 per month changed their eating habits to unhealthy since the emergency began. The population in the city of Quito varied their daily routine of physical activity and their eating habits, this suggests that it should be analyzed what measures should be implemented to continue with what has been improved and change what has worsened, and thus avoid public health problems in the future.