Lifestyle of italian sport sciences students during SARS-COV-2 pandemic

To counter and contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, restrictive measures have been imposed, and these led to the disruption of normal life habits causing behavioral changes. The study aimed to investigate the lifestyle among Sport Sciences students to evaluate: practice of physical activity, eating behavior, use of electronic devices, and chronotype (CT). Indeed, people displays preferences to be active at certain time of the day, and based on these differences, they can be classified in three different CT: M-, N- and E-types [1]. Study showed a relationship between light-dark cycle, social life and cardiometabolic disease risk factors, especially in E-Types [2]. Methods 201 students (108 males and 93 females) were recruited. Participants filled out the Italian versions of the Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (GSLTPAQ) and the reduced version of the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ). Moreover, they completed a composite questionnaire aimed to investigate their nutritional habits and daily use of electronic devices. The GSLTPAQ and the composite questionnaire were administered both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire sample was divided into three groups according to their CT: M-types (N:22), N-types (N:128) and E-types (N:51). Results In relation to the physical activity, the results during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that none of the three CT have substantially changed their physical activity habits compared to the PRE COVID-19 period, confirming to be a physically active population. Instead, consumption of fruits and vegetables increased for all three groups during the pandemic. The consumption of meat increased for M-types while it de- creased for E-types groups. Positively, both N-types and E-types decreased the number of glasses of beer/wine and alcohol per week. M-types did not show differences between the two periods, but it must be considered that they started from very low alcohol consumption in PRE COVID period. The use of the electronic devices increased for all CT before sleeping, and also during the day in M- and E-types. Discussion This exceptional emergency has profoundly changed daily behavior, particularly among young people. The data collected before and during the pandemic period on young attending the Sport Science School have instead highlighted that this population remained active and im- proved eating habits during the covid emergency. Particularly, E-types, the CT that display a mismatch between light-dark cycle and social life with bad consequence for health [2], improved their lifestyle, perhaps due to a lesser influence of social commitments during pandem- ic. [1] Montaruli A et al. The circadian typology: the role of physical activity and melatonin. Sport Sciences for Health (2017) 13(3):469-476 [2] Wittmann M et al. Social jetlag: Misalignment of biological and social time. Chronobiol. Int. (2006) 23:497–509