Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic, one of the greatest global health crises of the 21st century, forced many countries to implement various isolation strategies, including the suspension of in-person classes in schools and universities. University students were forced to take advantage of information technologies to attend online classes, which led to changes in their eating habits and lifestyles during confinement.

Objective:

To identify the eating habits and healthy lifestyles of second to sixth year medical students at UNAH during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the period from September to November 2021.

Methods:

A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study, universe of 2 250 students, with a non- probabilistic sampling. The data were collected using an electronic questionnaire on the Google Forms platform.

Results:

Before lockdown, 84,6% of students consumed fast food 1 to 3 times a week, 36% consumed alcohol only on special occasions, and 58,9% engaged in physical activity 1 to 5 times a week. During lockdown, 80,9% consumed fast food 1 to 3 times a week, 36% continued to consume alcohol on special occasions, and 63% engaged in physical activity 1 to 5 times a week.

Conclusions:

Taking classes online and being confined changed the daily routine of medical students, showing a positive impact on their eating habits and physical activity during that period.