Body Composition Of University Students During Covid-19 Confinement And After Sixth Months Of Face-to-face Academic Activities

As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health strategies in Mexico included to avoid interpersonal contact through confinement, forcing the suspension of all non-essential activities, including the face-to-face academic activities. The modification of work, academic, nutritional, and social dynamics are having an unprecedented impact on the biological, psychological and social health of the population, therefore, maintaining and promoting the physical and mental health of the population is a challenge that transcends time, individual level, and calls for actions at the local, national, and global levels. PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes on body composition of university students before and after six-month of face-to-face academic activities after the COVID-19 confinement. METHODS: Anthropometric evaluation of height, weight, hip girth, and waist girth was performed according to ISAK methods to determine the body mass index and the waist-to-hip ratio. Body fat percentage was obtained by air displacement plethysmography. RESULTS: A total of 204 university students (120 women and 84 men, 20.65 ± 0.9 years) participated in the study. Body composition before and after six-month of face-to-face academic activities of participants are shown in Table 1. CONCLUSION: The first six months of face-to-face academic courses after COVID-19 confinement resulted in a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of body fat percentage of obese male university students, that may result in a clinically relevant impact to their quality of life .