Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Well-being: Comparisons between People with Obesity, with Diabetes and without Diseases

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are two chronic diseases most associated with hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. Background: This study compared psychological impact of COVID-19 lockdown in people with obesity, people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and people without diseases, and determined the factors associated with well-being. Materials and methods: An online survey on negative affect, attitudes, social support and sharing, coping, well-being, and eating behavior was conducted in 157 people with obesity, 92 with type 2 diabetes and 288 without diseases. Results: People with obesity were the most worried of getting infected (70%) or dying (64%) and had the highest levels of emotional eating. People with T2D showed better coping strategies and higher well-being. Negative affect, worries about COVID-19 consequences and uncontrolled eating had negative impact, but social support, social sharing, and coping contributed positively (p < 0.001) to well-being. A 48.7% of people with obesity experienced more difficulties to adhere to treatment compared to only 11.1% of people with T2D. Conclusions: People with obesity had less well-being and more COVID-19 worries and emotional eating than people with T2D and without diseases. Well-being depends on negative affect, worries and eating behavior. Future research about the impact in long-term on weight and health status in patients with chronic diseases is needed.