BackgroundHealth care workers (HCWs) played a key role in preventing and controlling COVID-19. Higher infection risks and intensive work led
BackgroundHealth care workers (HCWs) played a key role in preventing and controlling COVID-19. Higher infection risks and intensive work led to occupational burnout for many HCWs, which may affect their lifestyle behaviors and weight. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess HCWs’ self-rated health status, overweight and obesity rates, lifestyle behaviors, and psychoemotional changes from 2019 to 2022 across China and to analyze the factors associated with changes from underweight or normal weight in 2019 to overweight or obese in 2022. MethodsIn this retrospective study, 100 health care institutions were randomly selected from 5 provinces or regions in China. All HCWs who worked in the institutions for at ≥3 years were invited to complete the electronic questionnaire and participate in the online survey from August 1, 2022, to August 31, 2022. Collected data included changes in lifestyle behaviors (dietary habits, physical activity, sleep quality, smoking, alcohol consumption), psychoemotional conditions (persistent stress or recurrent anxiety or depressed mood), health status, and chronic disease control from December 2019 to August 2022. Height and weight in 2019 and 2022 were retrieved from annual physical examination records. Overweight and obesity were defined as 24.0 kg/m2≤BMI