Acceleration in BMI gain following COVID‐19 restrictions. A longitudinal study with 7‐ to 10‐year‐old primary school children

Abstract

Background: The ramifications of COVID-19 restrictions might accelerate the already rising proportion of children with overweight or obesity. Objectives: To assess the association between COVID-19 restrictions and changes in body mass index (BMI) and the proportion of children with overweight or obesity. Methods: Cohort study with baseline measurements in September 2019 (prior to COVID-19 restrictions) and follow-up in June 2020, September 2020, and March 2021 at 12 primary schools in Austria. The height and weight of 738 children aged 7 to 10 years were measured and age-and sex-specific national and international standardized values were calculated. Changes over time were analysed by analysis of variance. Results: Mean BMI IOTF standard deviation scores (SDS) increased by 0.24 (95% CI, 0.21-0.28) between September 2019 and March 2021. The proportion of children with overweight or obesity increased from 20.7% to 26.2% during this period (p < 0.001) using national reference values-EQUI BMI AUT -comparable results were observed. Simultaneously, the height AUT SDS increased by 0.06 (95% CI, 0.05-0.08) with a larger increase in girls (+0.11; p < 0.001) than in boys (+0.03; p = 0.19). Conclusions: COVID-19 restrictions were associated with accelerated increases in mean BMI and the proportion of children with overweight or obesity. The increase in height SDS in girls calls for further investigations.

Change in BMI and Fitness among Primary School Children in Austria: A 24-Month Follow-Up Study of 303 Children Measured before and during the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Consistent with our findings, there are already a number of studies reporting increases in BMI associated with the COVID-19 pandemic [ 16 , 19 , 20 , 23 , 44 , 45 , 46 ], but few studies [ 17 , 22 ] have objectively measured health-related fitness in a representative sample, and our study is the first scientific report to present results from the period prior to COVID-19, as well as from a 2-year follow-up period as the pandemic ran its course.…”

“…The restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had an equally significant impact on the health and fitness of children and adolescents [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In particular, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), which is a strong health maker [ 18 ], and changes in body mass index (BMI) showed dramatic negative trends due to the COVID-19 restrictions [ 16 , 19 ].…”

“…There are already a large number of studies reporting body mass index changes in children and adolescents [ 16 , 19 , 20 , 21 ] but only a few reports on the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on endurance, strength, and speed [ 15 , 17 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Furthermore, to date, no study has reported the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on BMI or various fitness parameters over a 2-year observation period.…”

The Impact of COVID-19-Related Mitigation Measures on the Health and Fitness Status of Primary School Children in Austria: A Longitudinal Study with Data from 708 Children Measured before and during the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

“…With the beginning of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions on physical activity and temporary bans (mostly during lockdown phases) on organized sports in general and in schools, the already serious obesity pandemic underwent a worrisome acceleration [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ] and health-related fitness scores showed dramatic decreases [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ].…”

Prolonged body weight gain, lifestyle changes and health-related quality of life in children during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a long-term follow-up study

“…We also observed that boys, unlike girls, continued gaining weight although lockdown measurements were eased. Boys also were more susceptible to weight gain during lockdown in studies in Austrian [40] and Chinese children [22,41] and Italian adolescents with obesity [35].…”