Income precarity and child and parent weight change during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional analysis of the Ontario Parent Survey

Abstract

ObjectivesTo describe child and parent weight change during the pandemic, overall and by income precarity.DesignA cross-sectional online survey was conducted.SettingCaregivers of children 0–17 years of age living in Ontario, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic from May 2021 to July 2021.ParticipantsA convenience sample of parents (n=9099) with children (n=9667) living in Ontario were identified through crowdsourcing.Primary outcome measureParents recalled, for themselves and their child, whether they lost weight, gained weight or remained the same over the past year. OR and 95% CI were estimated using multinomial logistic regression for the association between income precarity variables and weight loss or gain, adjusted for age, gender and ethnicity.ResultsOverall, 5.5% of children lost weight and 20.2% gained weight. Among adolescents, 11.1% lost weight and 27.1% gained weight. For parents, 17.1% reported weight loss and 57.7% reported weight gain. Parent weight change was strongly associated with child weight change. Income precarity measures, including job loss by both parents (OR=7.81, 95% CI 5.16 to 11.83) and disruption to household food supply (OR=6.05, 95% CI 4.77 to 7.68), were strongly associated with child weight loss. Similarly, job loss by both parents (OR=2.03, 95% CI 1.37 to 3.03) and disruption to household food supply (OR=2.99, 95% CI 2.52 to 3.54) were associated with child weight gain.ConclusionsWeight changes during the COVID-19 pandemic were widespread and income precarity was strongly associated with weight loss and weight gain in children and parents. Further research is needed to investigate the health outcomes related to weight change during the pandemic, especially for youth, and the impacts of income precarity.

Age-related differences in the association between financial hardship and weight change during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Our findings are consistent with at least one other study conducted prior to the pandemic which found that financial stress was associated with a higher prevalence of weight gain in the US, especially among those experiencing difficulty paying bills or who had less money to meet life necessities [ 5 ]. A Canadian study conducted during the pandemic also found that financial hardship was strongly associated with both weight loss and weight gain [ 6 ]. Although there is minimal evidence on the association between financial hardship and weight change during the pandemic in the US, one study did find that economic stress during the pandemic was linked to increases in unhealthy behaviors (less exercise, sleep, and healthy eating; more smoking/vaping and drinking alcohol), which could lead to weight change [ 7 ].…”

“…Financial hardship has the potential to impact weight change (e.g., stress-related overeating, food insecurity) [ [5] , [6] , [7] ] and the long-term health effects of weight change (e.g., increased risk of morbidity and mortality) [ [8] , [9] , [10] ]. Prior to the pandemic, financial hardship has been associated with both an increased risk of weight loss and weight gain.…”

Physical activity and unexpected weight change in Ontario children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional analysis of the Ontario Parent Survey 2

“…A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Ontario Parent Survey 2 between May 4 th and July 3 rd , 2021 [ 26 , 27 ]. Caregivers and parents (hereafter collectively referred to as parents) of children 5–17 years of age in Ontario, Canada were recruited to participate in the voluntary, open, online survey.…”

“…A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Ontario Parent Survey 2 between May 4 th and July 3 rd , 2021 [26,27]. Caregivers and parents (hereafter collectively referred to as PLOS ONE html) awarded to AG.…”

Covid-19 Pandemic and Child-Parent Relationship: A Serial Mediation Model Based on Parental Stress and Harsh Parenting

“…Moreover, theoretical models highlighted that parental health is correlated with the health of children and vice versa (Joshi et al, 2023). Although negative strategies used by the parents may cause significant harm to children and cause issues severe psychological and behavioral issues (Zafar et al, 2021).…”