Weight changes during the COVID‐19 shutdown in older individuals with type 2 diabetes: the Look AHEAD Study

The aim of this study was to examine weight changes in older adults (mean age=76 years) with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity during the COVID-19 shutdown, and to compare the behavioral and psychosocial effects of the shutdown in different weight change groups. The study surveyed 2544 Look AHEAD participants, who self-reported their current weight, reasons for weight change, weight-related behaviors, psychosocial measures, and negative and positive effects of the pandemic on their lives. The study found that on average, participants lost 2.2 kg during the COVID-19 shutdown, with 47% of participants losing more than 2% of their body weight and only 18% gaining more than 2%. There were few differences in standardized psychosocial measures or self-reported effects of the shutdown on participants' lives among the different weight change groups. However, participants who gained weight reported the most negative impact. Decreases in physical activity and increases in screen time were reported frequently in all weight-change categories. Overall, while weight loss appeared more common than weight gain during the COVID-19 shutdown, the weight-change groups did not differ significantly on most psychosocial and behavioral variables.