Guwahati: When the COVID-19 lockdown gripped the world, life in Northeast India—known for its vibrant culture, outdoor activities, and community-driven lifestyles—underwent an unprecedented transformation.
A new study conducted by scientists from various institutions across Northeast India has shed light on the physiological effects of the lockdown on individuals in the region, uncovering significant changes in sleep patterns, dietary habits, digestion, physical activity, and menstrual health.
The COVID-19 lockdown, extended in various phases for nearly 1.5 to 2 years, confined everyone except frontline workers to their homes. People endured high levels of anxiety and uncertainty, driven by shortages of basic resources, survival challenges, an overload of information and misinformation on rising COVID-related morbidity and mortality, and frustration over the inability to productively use the unstructured time due to social restrictions.
The study covered 992 participants residing in Northeast India during the lockdown. Most of them (929, or 93.5%) were originally from the region, including 543 (54.7%) from Assam and 133 (13.4%) from Meghalaya.
For many, the lockdown was more than just a pause on daily routines—it disrupted fundamental aspects of health, leading to both short-term adaptations and potential long-term consequences.
“The most significant changes were seen in sleep. Changes in diet were inclined toward positive health. Sleeping beyond 1 AM, however, predisposed individuals to longer latency of sleep, reduced restfulness, and delayed breakfast and defecation times. Some of the changes observed during lockdown persisted even after the relaxation of restrictions,” the study stated.
Stress, altered lifestyles, circadian rhythm disruptions, fear of the virus, and lack of social interactions were all potential contributing factors to disturbed sleep.
One of the most striking findings was the paradox of sleep: although people had the opportunity to sleep more with workplaces shut and travel halted, this did not translate to better rest. Many participants reported increased sleep duration but poorer sleep quality due to irregular routines, heightened stress, and excessive screen time that disrupted natural sleep cycles.
The study also observed healthier dietary trends during the lockdown. There was an increase in the intake of water, fruit juice, and vegetarian food, alongside a decrease in junk food consumption. However, tendencies toward frequent snacking and weight gain were also reported. Most participants said their coffee intake and appetite remained unchanged, though a large proportion reported delays in eating breakfast.
A notable and significant decrease in alcohol consumption was recorded during the lockdown. The number of people abstaining from alcohol rose significantly and remained high even after restrictions were eased.
Morning bowel movements were also delayed, with defecation shifting to later in the day—a pattern that continued after the lockdown was lifted.
The study found that while some routines like bedtime returned to near-normal, other changes such as increased sleep latency and later defecation times persisted.
“This calls for the importance of formulating guidelines and mitigation strategies while imposing lockdowns, taking into consideration the physiological changes it brings about. The changes in restfulness, sleep disturbance, screen time duration, sleep latency, defecation time, and alcohol consumption observed during lockdown persisted even after restrictions were lifted. Future prospective studies are needed to determine the time required for these changes to revert,” the authors concluded.
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