Gender differences in bodyweight change following COVID-19 lockdown measures in the Netherlands: a prospective longitudinal study

Background The current study aimed to prospectively assess bodyweight change following the implementation of lockdown measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands and to explore the potentially moderating role of gender in this association. Design Using Dutch DNB Household Survey panel data collected between 1993 and 2020, we estimated fixed-effects regression models of bodyweight change. Models were stratified by gender and formal tests of gender differences in coefficient estimates were performed. Participants 4365 women and 4583 men aged 18-65 were included in the study. The total number of observations was 41 330. Outcome measures The outcome of interest was self-reported bodyweight in kilograms. Additional analyses were performed using body mass index (self-reported weight in kilograms divided by self-reported height in metres squared) as the outcome. Results The implementation of Dutch lockdown measures in 2020 was associated with bodyweight gain of approximately 800 g in working-age women compared with the 3 prior years. Bodyweight gain in 2020 relative to the prior years was significantly stronger for women than for men (F(4, 8947)=3.9, p<0.01). No evidence of bodyweight gain in working-age men was found. Conclusion Results indicate that bodyweight gain following COVID-19 lockdown measures in the Netherlands was more pronounced among women than among men. Although necessary to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown measures may contribute to a different public health challenge in the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Automated summary

Following the implementation of lockdown measures in the Netherlands, there was a significant increase in bodyweight among women but not among men. This could contribute to a rising prevalence of overweight and obesity.