Recalling Perceptions, Emotions, Behaviours, and Changes in Weight Status Among University Students After the
Luciana Zaccagni1,2, Stefania Toselli3, Emanuela Gualdi-Russo1
1Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
Nutrients
|October 16, 2025
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted young athletes
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Public Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Global rise in overweight and obesity accelerated by the pandemic.
- Need to understand pandemic's impact on young athletes' well-being and nutritional status.
- Focus on sex-related differences in lifestyle and body mass index (BMI) changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- Examine the effects of suspended sports activities during the pandemic on young Italian athletes.
- Investigate changes in physical activity, nutritional status, and psychological well-being.
- Analyze sex-specific differences in pandemic-related impacts.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study involving 515 Sport Sciences students (aged 18+).
- Cross-sectional online survey with an 18-item questionnaire.
- Assessed pandemic experiences, lifestyle changes, and body weight alterations.
Main Results:
- Restrictions negatively impacted 38.3% of males and 43% of females.
- Significant sex differences observed in habits, behaviors, and perceptions.
- Current BMI influenced by lockdown experiences, sedentary behavior, and eating habits, particularly in males.
Conclusions:
- Pandemic-induced lifestyle changes (sedentary behavior, altered eating) significantly affected young athletes' BMI.
- The pandemic had differential effects on physically active young adults.
- Sex-specific consequences for mental and physical health require attention.
Keywords:
COVID-19Sport Sciences studentsbody mass indexmental healthphysical activityphysical healthsexMore Related Videos
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