The Effect of Social Isolation during COVID-19 Pandemic on Nutrition and Exercise Behaviors of Nursing Students

This study aims to examine the effect of social isolation during COVID-19 pandemic on nutrition and exercise behaviors of nursing students. This descriptive study was conducted with nursing students of a university in eastern Turkey. The sample of the study consisted of 1,011 nursing students. The data were collected via e-mail using the Questionnaire of Descriptive Characteristics and the Nutrition Exercise Behavior Scale. Nutrition and exercise behaviors were affected by lockdown. During lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of students (46.9%) gained weight, and the majority (56.7%) did not exercise regularly. A statistically significant difference was found between the students' psychological/addictive eating behavior and unhealthy nutrition-exercise behavior subscales mean scores according to change in body weight, most intense emotion, status of currently doing regular exercise (p < .001), gender, frequency of eating and status of doing regular exercise before COVID-19 pandemic (p < .05). It is recommended to prepare informative guidelines and educate individuals about dietary habits, meal schedules, regular exercise, and healthy nutrition.