Eating habits and lifestyle changes among higher studies students post-lockdown in Bangladesh: A web-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus is still exhibiting cases in Bangladesh thus educational institutes are still ceased over one year, it becomes burdens to students at post lockdown period. OBJECTIVES: Identifying the changes in eating habits and lifestyles including, physical activity, sleeping hours, and sleep quality after the cancellation of lockdown than the period of restrictions. METHODS: A quasi-experimental cross-sectional study was conducted among 394 students in Bangladesh using a structured questionnaire from February 3, 2021, to February 13, 2021. RESULTS: Consuming homemade foods drops by 8.63% at post lockdown than lockdown period. At post lockdown, 26.67% of students gained weight whereas 47.46% of respondents never engaged in any physical works. There has been a significant correlation between weight gain and physical activities (p = 0.007). Not continuing the academic activities from home was significantly associated with weight changes (AOR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.95), meals per day (AOR = 3.25; 95% CI: 1.79, 5.92), screen time for entertainment (AOR = 3.08; 95% CI: 1.78, 5.33), sleeping hours (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.30, 3.83), and sleep quality (AOR = 2.38; 95% CI: 1.35, 4.23) whereas female gender was related to meals per day (AOR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.95) and sleep quality (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.85). However, 43.91% of respondents never felt any sleep disturbances. The rates of students who always experienced mentally tired, resentment, and sadness at post lockdown was lower than lockdown period. All of these changes were significant (p < 0.000) in terms of the lockdown situation. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows notable changes in eating habits and lifestyles after lockdown which may indicate the tendency to adopt normal life than restrictions.