A study on poverty

analysis in pandemic
change
COVID-19 has affected extreme income poverty across the world. Poverty data is
typically drawn from household surveys, and for obvious reasons it is nigh
impossible to conduct proper surveys under current conditions in many countries.
But we do know that the strongest driver of poverty is economic growth and for
this indicator, the International Monetary Fund has produced new estimates for
2020 and beyond from which inferences can be made as to the impact on poverty.

The results are sobering. Table 1 shows topline figures, built up from an analysis
of 183 countries for which data is reported.

The first row of Table 1 shows a baseline of poverty estimates made in the late
2019. A total of 650 million people were thought to be in extreme poverty in 2019
and, given likely growth trajectories without COVID- 19, poverty was on a path of
a steady reduction in most countries, as well as the underdeveloped countries.
Today, the pattern is quite different. Some small data updates affect the historical
record—2019 may have been a better year than previously believed, with slightly
fewer poor people in the world. But in 2020, the impact of collapsing growth has
been substantial.

Compared to 2019, poverty in 2020 could rise by 120 million people. Compared to
the baseline path for poverty, the 2020 figure is 144 million people higher. Some
of the economists believed that by 2021, things can get back to normal. But as of
now, still the second and third world countries are struggling to tackle the COVID-
19 waves. Because of COVID - 19, the longer-term scenario says that the decline
of poverty is slowed down by the virus . By 2030, the poverty numbers could still
be higher than the baseline (the predicted number) by 60 million people.

Figure 1 shows the top 10 countries where extreme poverty is likely to rise the
most. Far and away the biggest impact is likely to be felt in India. India is a
particular case in having a large number of highly vulnerable people, only recently
escaped from poverty, coupled with a very significant expected fall in economic
growth. India’s per capita growth rate for 2020 has been revised downwards to
about -11 percent this year, one of the deepest recessions in the world. This has
sharply altered its poverty trajectory that had been trending downwards. India
recently gave up its title as the country with the largest number of extreme poor to
Nigeria but will reclaim its title this year, adding 85 million people to its poverty
rolls in 2020.
COVID-19 is widely viewed as a temporary shock to economic growth around the
world, and indeed the experience of China, which has had a sharp V-shaped
recession and recovery, shows this could be the case. For the majority of countries,
however, the economic damage could be more long-lasting, and this is the real risk
to families that have been pushed below the poverty line. The experience of living
with poverty for short periods of time is harsh, but some families have coping
mechanisms—assets they can sell, assistance from governments, relatives, and
neighbors. But over longer periods of time, poverty leaves permanent scars—
malnutrition, susceptibility to disease, missed schooling. For this reason, it is
useful to look at the longer-term impact of COVID-19 on poverty, despite all the
caveats associated with any decadelong economic forecasts.

Figure 2 provides an estimate of the countries that could have the deepest, long-
lasting impact of COVID-19 on poverty. With the exception of Venezuela and
Yemen, all being in Africa. The Asian countries that appear in Figure 1—
Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines—disappear from Figure 2 because trend
growth rates in Asia are higher, so the impact of recession on poverty is quickly
reversed. By contrast, in the African countries that are listed in Figure 2, trend
economic growth is slow, so the impact of COVID-19 could set back development
for several years. Indeed, for some of the countries with high levels of poverty, like
Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, poverty numbers in 2030 could
exceed those in 2020.

The countries listed in Figure 2 are those where the largest effort is needed to
offset COVID-19’s impact on the poorest families, by international and domestic,
official, and philanthropic actors.
 The lifestyle of
students in 2020 and
2021
Introduction

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has the potential to cause considerable
morbidity and mortality, affecting the people and health care systems globally. Most of the
countries followed restrictive measures such as closing cultural events, prohibiting social
events, home confinement, and lockdown to prevent disease transmission and to contain the
COVID-19 outbreak. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, educational institutions were closed,
and online education was implemented. Although these restrictive measures decreased the
COVID-19 spread, it may also lead to health risk behaviors and may impact the student’s
physical activity, dietary pattern, sleeping hours, social habits, and mental health.These
health-related factors may affect the normal body weight maintenance of college/ school
students

An example is that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) announced a series of restrictions due
to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases. The lockdown began on 23 March and ended on
21 June 2020 to limit the spread of COVID-19. During the lockdown, people could go out of
their houses for necessary shopping from 6 am to 7 pm in the partial lockdown period and 6
am to 3 pm in increased timing of lockdown period. Physical activity has been reduced for
students because of lockdown movements; this could alter their BMI (body mass index) . One
of the common primary contributors to the obesity or overweight epidemic is physical
inactivity, which could be promoted or delayed by various environmental factors.

Globally, the prevalence of obesity has risen, reaching pandemic levels. It requires methods
that combine individual interventions with environmental and societal changes to decrease
obesity problems. The leading risk factors in the world for cardiovascular diseases and
lifestyles and physical inactivity. Cardiorespiratory fitness could be achieved by improving
physical activity, and healthy lifestyle practices.

Evidence indicates that increased BMI status is highly related to developing severe
complications of COVID-19.The changes in body weight, either obesity or underweight are
proven to be important health-related risk factors for various pathologies, including COVID-
19. Research proved that both obesity and food insecurity are common public health concerns
that usually influences at the individual and environmental levels. Food insecurity has been
associated with weight gain and the risk of obesity.

Lifestyle components such as physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle practices, and dietary
habits are the main factors influencing the maintenance of BMI and contributing to obesity
among adolescents and young adults, which was evidenced from several research studies.The
key factors contributing to obesity among college students are dietary habits, which include
dietary consumption patterns, frequency of meals, and skipping breakfast. Furthermore,
lockdown policies disrupted the student’s habits and lifestyles.

A study on the direction of the association between body fatness and self-reported screen
time in Dutch adolescents resulted in that time spent watching television predicted changes
in body mass index. Computer utilization time was significantly predicted to increase skinfolds
in boys and girls and BMI in girls alone.Body fatness did not predict any variation in screen
time. Other studies also indicated that the frequency of meal intake contributed to the
development of obesity. Another study result revealed that half of Brits (47%) had put on
weight since their nation started in lockdown. Despite the severity and health consequences
of the COVID-19 outbreak is instigating wider conversations around the nation’s health as
well as the importance of a balanced lifestyle.

The lack of weight management activities and unhealthy dietary practices were more
common among students and it might have worsened due to the COVID-19 lockdown in
Saudi Arabia which is alarming the risk factors and increasing obesity rate.Evidences showed
that the poor sleep quality among students was very high in COVID-19 lockdown and that
altered sleep might have resulted in lifestyle changes. This has been associated with
behavioral changes, dietary changes, and BMI. University students were particularly
susceptible to experiencing mental health problems compared with the general population.

In part of the research, I came across research about the topic. It is about how students have
changed both physically and mentally. I have not covered the entire research here because it
is too lengthy, but i still managed to include their results in here in the simplest way possible.
Results

Lifestyle of the Students -

Change in depression due to COVID-19-

Depression among the study participants was measured using the CES-D . Comparing the mean of
each item and the total score on the CES-D, the mean and total points of each item during COVID-19
decreased . When compared before and after COVID-19, the depression scores of the participants
significantly increased in all sub-categories . In addition, significant changes were observed when total
scores were compared . This indicates that the higher the total score, the greater the severity of
depression, and the more likely that depression was caused by the pandemic situation.

the lifestyle tool components including diet, sleep, and mental health of the university /
school students, before and during the COVID‐19 lockdown results are shown in the table
below

Change in quality of life due to COVID-19

The quality of life of the study participants was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF . The mean of
each item and total score decreased during the pandemic . Comparing the results before and after
COVID-19, there were significant decreases in the following sub-items: physical health, social
relationships, environment, and general . The psychological quality of life decreased, but this was not
statistically significant . The WHOQOL-BREF total scores showed a significant decrease after the
outbreak of COVID-19. These results indicate a decrease in the quality of life due to the pandemic
situation.
Change in physical activity due to COVID-19

Physical activity was measured using a questionnaire constructed for this study . There was a
significant decrease in the level of aerobic, anaerobic, low-intensity, high-intensity, and walking
exercises for all aspects of performance, including days performed, time, and satisfaction . The time
and number of days when low-intensity exercise was performed, as well as satisfaction with exercise,
decreased significantly. These results confirmed a significant decrease in physical activity due to
COVID-19.

Change in food intake due to COVID-19

Food intake was measured using the questionnaires constructed for this study. Among the nutrients
included in this study, the intake of carbohydrates and minerals increased significantly, while no
significant differences were observed in the consumption of protein, fat, and vitamins.There were also
no significant differences in water intake, smoking, and drinking. The amount of alcohol consumed
significantly decreased after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion

Though half of the students maintain the same BMI in lockdown, the students increased BMI
which was associated with physical and lifestyle factors. Interestingly, among the students
who reduced weight may be attributed to reduced intake of fast and fried food during the
COVID-19 lockdown. Poor physical activity was reported by many students and most of them
used a sedentary lifestyle. It is an alarming report for us to take measures to reduce obesity
prevalence. Hence, health awareness such as weight maintenance, active physical activities,
a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet, adequate sound sleep, active and stress-free
mental status must be created among the students, which help in creating and implementing
policies in the future.