Physical Activity and BMI before and after the Situation Caused by COVID-19 in Upper Primary School Pupils in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Regular physical activity is a very important factor in the healthy development of an individual and an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. However, today’s population still suffers from an insufficient amount of exercise caused mainly by technological progress and often inappropriate conditions for practising sports. In relation to this, we are grappling with a steady increase in obesity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, conditions for regular physical activity became even more unfavourable, with the declaration of a state of emergency and antipandemic measures leading to the closure of sports grounds and sporting competitions. Using a questionnaire survey of a sample of children (n = 1456), we found that, already before the pandemic, 69% of the observed sample had not met the recommended amount of physical activity, and only 67% of the sample was of normal weight. By comparing both groups after the end of pandemic restrictions, we found statistically significant differences at examined indicators of the children’s Body Mass Index (BMI), their physical activity, and free time spending habits. We noticed the significant differences in BMI indicators in two different categories, normal weight (7.5%) and stage 1 obesity (1.66%). Simultaneously, we noticed differences in the children’s physical activities, especially with children who attend sports playgroups connected to athletic development (8.74%). More differences were noticed in free time spending habits indicators; the most significant ones were with the children who spend their free time behind the personal computer for more than 14 h a week (5.4%) and with the children who spend their free time on social media for 8–14 h a week (18.56%).

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on obesity and its risk factors: a systematic review

“…Quality was assessed using the modified Newcastle–Ottawa Scale [ 19 ]. Out of included forty studies, 16 were classified as good quality [ 26 , 27 , 33 – 38 , 45 , 46 , 48 , 49 , 54 , 58 , 59 ] while twenty-four were also classified as satisfied [ 21 – 25 , 28 – 31 , 39 – 44 , 47 , 50 – 53 , 55 – 57 , 60 ]. Twenty-four articles were done on the adult population [ 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 28 – 30 , 36 , 38 , 42 – 44 , 46 , 48 – 50 , 55 , 57 – 59 ], five articles were done only adolescents [ 31 , 39 , 41 , 47 , 60 ], three research articles were also done on children [ 34 , 53 , 54 ], and finally, eight articles were done on both children and adolescents [ 21 , 24 , 27 , 33 , 37 , 45 , 52 , 56 ] as shown in Table 1 .…”

“…The most common determinants identified were physical inactivity [ 21 – 23 , 27 , 30 , 31 , 34 , 37 , 40 , 43 , 44 , 46 , 48 , 52 , 56 , 57 , 60 ], increasing sedentary [ 21 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 37 ], and eating unhealthy foods [ 25 , 36 , 38 , 43 , 46 , 50 , 57 ]. In addition, the age of participants, feeling hungry, overeating, eating low-quality or unbalanced diet, sweet beverages, snacks, excess salty foods, drinking soda, binge eating, and less water consumption, we have one additional paper on household food insecurity, gender, ethnic minority, educational status, fear of COVID-19, anxiety, stress, and low mood during the pandemic, Internet or social media addiction, long screening time, long sitting hours, and substance abuse were found to be associated with COVID-19 lockdown on obesity.…”

“…This finding is associated with weight gain and obesity during the quarantine period. Of the 40 studies included in this review, 17 identified physical inactivity as a risk factor for weight gain during the lockdown [ 21 – 23 , 27 , 30 , 31 , 34 , 37 , 40 , 43 , 44 , 46 , 48 , 52 , 56 , 57 , 60 ]. In contrast, five articles reported that active to vigorous physical activities decreased obesity/weight gain during pandemics [ 28 , 29 , 41 , 49 , 51 ].…”

“…; lifestyle. ; physical activity; followed by environmental factors 7 29 Jana Pyšná [ 29 ] Czech Republic CS 1456 775 2022 School based BMI-for-age NA mean age 12.9 year Physical activity ( p value = 0.034); screen ( p value = 0.033) 6 30 Luigi Barrea et al [ 30 ] Italy R/C 121 43 2020 Hospital based BMI NA age 44.9 ± 13.3 years daytime dysfunction ( p < 0.001); decreased physical activity (p = 0.004); Smart working male worsening ( p < 0.001) 6 31 Tereza Sˇ tvera ´ kova [ 31 ] Czech Republic CS 302 148 2021 Online survey BMI NA age = 10.1 ± 1.47 years Spare time (Q1) (t (239.2) = 3.39., ( p = 0.001)); school (Q2) ( t(236.9) = 2.97., p = 0.003)); Physical E (Q3) (t(164.87) = 9.85., p < 0.00)); recesses (Q4) (t(302) = 7.91., p < 0.001)) 6 32 Anna Vážná et al [ 32 ] Czech Republic R/C 3,518 1,759 2022 home-school based online survey BMI NA aged 4.71 to 17.33 year Age trends are highly for both sex...…”

Trends in physical activity in adolescents participating and not participating in organized team or individual physical activity

“…Adolescents' physical activity (PA) is an indispensable part of a healthy lifestyle which should be maintained throughout life [1]. Therefore, it is essential to adopt a habit of regular PA in childhood [2] and adolescence [3]. The most significant factors that affect the adoption of the habit of regular PA include especially family nurture [4,5,6], high-quality school-based physical education [7] and regular active participation in organized PA (OPA) [8].…”