Nutritional and Lifestyle Factors Determining the Problem of Overweight and Obesity Among Teenagers and Youth During the COVID-19 Pandemic – A Comparative Survey Study Among Poles and Belarusians

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, especially among youth. The main cause of obesity in young people is a combination of excessive caloric intake and reduced physical activity. In addition to individual dietary and physical activity behaviors, genetic predisposition, socioeconomic and environmental factors, and comorbidities may contribute to obesity.

Aim: The study aims to examine and compare the factors determining food preferences and habits as well as the occurrence of overweight and obesity among teenagers and youth in Poland and Belarus.

Material and methods: An anonymous questionnaire consisting of 58 questions based on the Eating Behavior Questionnaire (QEB) was used. Responses were received from 700 young people from Poland and 690 from Belarus, some of whom were rejected. The data was collected in May and June 2021 and analyzed in the Statistica program (statistically significant results at p<0.05). The research was financed by a grant from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.

Results: The study group was divided into four groups in terms of age and nationality: Poles <20 years old (428 people), Belarusians <20 years old (222 people), Poles 20-29 years old (210 people), and Belarusians 20-29 years old (295 people ). The correct BMI had 66.7%, 74.3%, 70.7%, and 71.2% of the respondents, respectively (p=0.057; p=0.888). In both age groups, in the Mann-Whitney U test, there are significant differences in the number of meals per day (p<0.001) - Poles eat 4 or 5 meals a day more often, and Belarusians 3. In the chi-square test, both age groups showed a significant statistical difference (p<0.001) in the question about eating breakfast every day - Poles eat breakfast more often than Belarusians. The Mann-Whitney U test showed no differences in sleep duration between the respondents from both countries (p=0.453; p=0.905).

Conclusions: The results of the research indicate a strong need to implement educational programs to raise the awareness among young people about healthy eating. Obesity, skipping breakfast, too few meals during the day, and their incorrect composition indicate the direction of pro-health policy, which will be conducive to making the right food choices for youth.