LB061 - EATING HABITS AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN DUBAI HEALTH.

LB061

EATING HABITS AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN DUBAI HEALTH.

A. Al Zorba^1,*, M. A. Essa¹

¹Clinical Nutrition, Dubai Health, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Rationale: This study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the eating habits and lifestyle behaviors of healthcare professionals in Dubai Health, a group with presumed high health literacy but also elevated exposure to stress and disruption. Understanding these changes is critical for developing targeted interventions that support the well-being of frontline healthcare workers during public health emergencies.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using online questionnaires administered to 413 DH Healthcare Professionals. The questionnaire was adopted and verified by Radwan et al. (2020) and was developed using Microsoft Forms for online completion.It was distributed to participants in both English and Arabic. It includes questions on sociodemographic data, lifestyle changes in eating habits, physical activity, smoking, and sleep patterns in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Dubai Scientific Research Ethics Committee.

Results: This study examined healthcare professionals' lifestyle behaviors and perceptions during COVID-19. The majority were female (82%), aged 35-44 (41%), and predominantly Asian (60%). Most resided in Dubai (75%) and were nurses (39%). Chronic diseases affected 81% of participants.Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors were prevalent, with 90% exhibiting three or more. Minimal changes were noted in physical activity (33%), food intake (54%), and sleep (72%). Stress increased for 61%, with prayer (36%) and entertainment (32%) as common coping strategies.Dietary shifts favored home-cooked meals (78%), and 70% believed vitamins strengthened immunity. Vitamin C (60%) and D (38%) were widely used. Women showed greater declines in physical activity and smoking, while married individuals reduced smoking more than singles. These findings highlight behavioral shifts influenced by demographic factors during the pandemic.

Conclusion: This study highlights significant lifestyle and behavioral changes among healthcare professionals during COVID-19. High stress levels, poor diet, and inactivity were common, with prayer and entertainment as key coping mechanisms. Women saw greater declines in physical activity and smoking, while married individuals reduced smoking more than singles. Despite widespread belief in vitamins for immunity, unhealthy habits persisted. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to support mental health, nutrition, and physical activity in healthcare workers during crises.

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Disclosure of Interest: None declared