UK picked alcohol over exercise during first lockdown according to UEA
The University of East Anglia has released a study into lifestyle behaviours during the first lockdown
A study by the University of East Anglia (UEA) found people in the UK drunk more alcohol during the start of the first lockdown, exercised less and didn't eat as much fruit and veg.
It was young people, women and those who are overweight that were more likely to adopt unhealthy behaviours according to the university.
Some of the people at greater risk of Covid-19 also demonstrated the most unhealthy behaviour changes.
Over 1,000 members of the public took part in a daily survey running for three months from 8th April 2020.
The questions focused on topics including physical activity, diet, sleep, smoking, drinking and drug use.
People's fruit and vegetable consumption was "one of the most striking things" researchers found as participants were eating around one less portion per day.
However, there wasn't an increase in the amount of junk food being eaten.
Dr Felix Naughton, who led the early analysis of the study, said they noticed a drop in the levels of exercise people were doing, which is concerning due to the benefits it gives.
Dr Naughton said: "We found that participants were doing significantly less exercise. Our figures show that overall, there was a 20 per cent reduction in days where participants were doing 30 minutes or more moderate to vigorous physical activity.
"But interestingly people did report that they were doing a bit more strength training – with a 15 per cent increase in strength training per week.
"We found that those groups most at risk of covid-19 were undertaking the least activity."
The study recognised that a drop in exercise was expected at first, due to the limitations on what people were permitted to do in the early stages of the pandemic, but emphasised it's important to improve immune systems.
While there wasn't a change in smoking, vaping or drug taking habits, the study found there was a "concerning" increase in the amount of alcohol we consumed.
It was found that women drunk alcohol more frequently than males, but males drunk greater qualities per occasion.
Dr Naughton continued: "We found that being a key worker, older and male was associated with a greater number of drinks consumed on a typical day’s drinking, and consuming alcohol on a greater number of days was associated with being older and female."
The university says researchers will continue to study longer term changes which they hope will help inform decision making about current and future pandemic responses.