Analysis of Association between Adolescents’ Food Habits and Body Mass Change in a Population-Based Sample: Diet and Activity of Youth during COVID-19 (DAY-19) Study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to food habit changes, including some negative ones that may increase the risk of overweight and obesity. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between adolescents’ food habits, body mass change, as well as physical activity level in a population-based sample within the Diet and Activity of Youth during COVID-19 (DAY-19) Study. The DAY-19 Study was conducted in a cohort of 1333 students (aged 10–16 years) recruited in schools after stratified random quota sampling of primary schools (sampling counties within voivodeships and schools within counties) in June 2020. The food habits were assessed for the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and the period before the COVID-19 pandemic while using Adolescent Food Habits Checklist (AFHC). The body mass changes were assessed based on body weight and height for the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and the period before the COVID-19 pandemic while using Polish growth reference values. The physical activity changes were assessed based on the subjective assessment of adolescents. It was stated that for female adolescents declaring body mass gain during the COVID-19 pandemic the highest AFHC purchase scores (healthy purchase habits) (p < 0.0001) were accompanied by the lowest AFHC consumption score (unhealthy consumption habits) (p < 0.0001), as well as for female adolescents declaring physical activity decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic the highest AFHC purchase scores (healthy purchase habits) were observed (p = 0.0333). It was stated that for male adolescents declaring physical activity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, the highest AFHC consumption scores (healthy consumption habits) were observed (p = 0.0003). In the case of a majority of participants, the general food habits were unchanged, which was observed mainly for food habits associated with food preparation. More food habits changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in body mass changes were observed in females than in male adolescents. Body mass gain during the COVID-19 pandemic in adolescents may have resulted from unhealthy consumption habits, accompanied by decreased physical activity, in spite of the fact that this sub-group presented healthy purchase habits, which was observed especially for female adolescents.

Prevalence of Obesity with its Associated Modifiable Risk Factors among Adolescents of Aged 17-24 Years: Cross-Sectional Study

“…Out of 108 male respondants32% belonged to 17 Among those respondents who were engaged in physical activity for less than 3 days, 43(40%) were nonobese & 3(2.7%) were obese, while those who…”

How the COVID-19 pandemic and related school closures reduce physical activity among children and adolescents in the WHO European Region: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Our systematic literature search identified 14,891 non-duplicate records and six grey literature publications. Of these, 135 studies and six grey literature reports were assessed for eligibility (full-text screening) and 25 [ 24 , 25 , 29 – 31 , 33 – 35 , 37 , 39 – 43 , 45 , 48 – 55 , 71 , 72 ] studies and one report [ 32 ] were deemed to meet the criteria for inclusion in the review (AF 1 : Fig. S1).…”

“…A detailed description of the included publications is presented in Table 1 and AF 1 : Table S9. The included 26 publications are scattered across 14 WHO European Region countries: four from Spain [ 43 , 45 , 48 , 49 ], four from the United Kingdom [ 52 – 55 ], three from Germany [ 30 , 31 , 73 ], two from Croatia [ 25 , 71 ], two from Italy [ 34 , 35 ], two from Poland [ 39 , 72 ], two from Slovenia [ 41 , 42 ], and one each from Bosnia and Herzegovina [ 24 ], Czech Republic [ 29 ], Ireland [ 33 ], Netherlands [ 37 ], Portugal [ 40 ], Sweden [ 50 ] and Switzerland [ 51 ]. A graphical overview of how these studies are distributed is provided in AF 1 : Fig.…”

“…S2. TPA and MVPA were analyzed in 15 publications (TPA: [ 24 , 25 , 29 , 30 , 34 , 35 , 40 , 41 , 43 , 45 , 48 , 49 , 52 , 55 , 71 ], MVPA: [ 31 , 33 , 35 , 37 , 39 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 48 , 50 , 53 – 55 , 72 , 73 ]) respectively, and SA in three publications [ 31 , 51 , 73 ]. Self-reported data were collected in 20 analyses [ 24 , 25 , 29 – 31 , 33 – 35 , 39 – 42 , 49 – 53 , 71 – 73 ] and accelerometer data in six analyses [ 35 , 37 , 43 , 45 , 48 , 55 ].…”

A Saúde De Adolescentes Na Volta Às Atividades Escolares Presenciais Após Dois Anos De Pandemia Do Covid-19 – Estudo Transversal De Base Escolar Em Pelotas/Rs

“…Uma série de estudos realizados em diferentes momentos da pandemia comparando marcadores de saúde com o período pré-pandêmico mostra que os adolescentes aumentaram sua massa corporal, diminuíram a quantidade de atividade física, aumentaram o tempo de envolvimento com telas, modificaram negativamente hábitos de sono e alimentares, e tiveram prejuízos em indicadores de saúde mental (ALBRECHT et al, 2022;BURKART et al, 2021;DA SILVA et al, 2022;KOLOTA;GLABSKA, 2022;LIMA et al, 2022;MALTA et al, 2021;SAMJI et al, 2021). Tais resultados antecipavam os desafios que estes adolescentes, suas famílias, as escolas e seus professores enfrentariam com o controle da pandemia e o retorno das atividades escolares presenciais.…”