How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed BMI Status and Physical Activity – Its Associations with Mental Health Conditions, Suicidality: An Exploratory Study

Farzana Mahzabin Auny,1,2,* Tahmina Akter,1,3,* Tianyou Guo,4 Mohammed A Mamun1,5 1CHINTA Research Bangladesh, (Centre for Health Innovation, Networking, Training, Action and Research – Bangladesh), Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh; 2Department of Public Health, Global Communicable Disease, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA; 3Department of Epidemiology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh; 4Exercise Psychophysiology Laboratory, Institute of KEEP Collaborative Innovation, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518060, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Tianyou GuoExercise Psychophysiology Laboratory, Institute of  KEEP Collaborative Innovation, School of Psychology,  Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518060, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail gtyou168@126.comMohammed A MamunDirector, CHINTA Research Bangladesh, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, BangladeshTel +88-1738592653Email mamunphi46@gmail.comBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has psycho-socially impacted people of all age groups. The consequences related to this crisis may increase the suicide mortality rate as reported in prior pandemics. Although many studies have been conducted identifying suicidal behavior attributing factors, there is a lack of knowledge on the associations of body mass index (BMI) and physical activities, their changes, and suicidal behavior, which were explored herein for the first time.Methods: An online-based, cross-sectional study was carried out with a total of 324 Bangladeshi people (mean age = 26.99 ± 8.17 years). The measures included questions on socio-demographics, health-related variables, physical activities-related variables, and mental health problems (eg, depression, anxiety and suicidal behavior).Res