Projecting the impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic on childhood obesity in the United States: A microsimulation model

An, Ruopeng

doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2020.05.006

Cited by 154 publications

(174 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…5,6,9 It has been projected that prolonged restriction could contribute significantly to long-term increases in obesity and mental health disorders. 3,8,12 Together these results suggest that isolation and physical inactivity during COVID-19 restrictions may represent a significant threat to physical and mental health in children.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

COVID-19 in Youth Soccer

Watson

Haraldsdóttir

Biese

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the case and incidence rates of COVID-19 among youth soccer players and evaluate the relationship with background COVID-19 risk and phase of return to play. Methods: Surveys were distributed to soccer clubs throughout the country regarding their phase of return to soccer (individual only, group non-contact, group contact) and date of reinitiation, number of players, cases of COVID-19, and risk reduction procedures that were being implemented. Overall case and incidence rates were compared to national pediatric data and county data from the prior 10 weeks where available. Finally, a negative binomial regression model was developed to predict club COVID-19 cases with local incidence rate and phase of return as covariates and the log of club player-days as an offset. Results: 129 clubs responded, of whom 124 had reinitiated soccer, representing 91,007 players with a median duration of 73 days (IQR: 53-83 days) since restarting. Of the 119 that had progressed to group activities, 218 cases of COVID-19 were reported among 85,861 players. Youth soccer players had a lower case rate and incidence rate than the national rate for children in the US (254 v. 477 cases per 100,000; IRR = 0.511, 95% CI = [0.40-0.57], p<0.001) and the general population from the counties in which soccer clubs were based where data was available (268 v. 864 cases per 100,000; IRR = 0.202 [0.19-0.21], p<0.001). After adjusting for local COVID-19 incidence, there was no relationship between club COVID-19 incidence and phase of return (non-contact: β=0.35±0.67, p=0.61; contact: β=0.18±0.67, p=0.79). No cases were reported to have resulted in hospitalization or death. 100% of clubs reported having a plan in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and utilizing multiple different risk reduction procedures (median 8, IQR 6-10). Conclusions: The incidence of COVID-19 among youth soccer athletes is relatively low when compared to the background incidence among children in the United States and the local general population. No relationship was identified between club COVID-19 incidence and phase of return to soccer. Youth soccer clubs universally report implementing a number of risk reduction procedures.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

COVID-19 in Youth Soccer

Watson

Haraldsdóttir

Biese

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…If, on the one hand, obese patients exhibit COVID-19 with particular characteristics, on the other hand, the pandemic has also led to socioeconomic changes that may impact childhood obesity, 129 especially among the poorest. 130 In this sense, an important study projected the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of childhood obesity in United States, according to different scenarios: 131 closing schools for two months; school closures for two months associated with a 10% drop in physical activity in two subsequent months of summer; adding two more subsequent months of closed schools; adding two more subsequent months of school closures. The increase in prevalence of obesity would be 0.640, 0.972, 1.676, and 2.373 percentage points, respectively.…”

Section: Pathophysiology Of Obesity and Its Relationship With Covid-1mentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and obesity in childhood and adolescence: a clinical review

Nogueira‐de‐Almeida

Ciampo

Ferraz

et al. 2020

Jornal de Pediatria

175

136

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Objective To identify factors that contribute to the increased susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 in obese children and adolescents, and its health consequences. Sources Studies published between 2000 and 2020 in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, SciELO, and Cochrane databases. Summary of findings Obesity is a highly prevalent comorbidity in severe cases of COVID-19 in children and adolescents; social isolation may lead to increase fat accumulation. Excessive adipose tissue, deficit in lean mass, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and low intake of essential nutrients are factors that compromise the functioning of organs and systems in obese individuals. These factors are associated with damage to immune, cardiovascular, respiratory, and urinary systems, along with modification of the intestinal microbiota (dysbiosis). In severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, these organic changes from obesity may increase the need for ventilatory assistance, risk of thromboembolism, reduced glomerular filtration rate, changes in the innate and adaptive immune response, and perpetuation of the chronic inflammatory response. Conclusions The need for social isolation can have the effect of causing or worsening obesity and its comorbidities, and pediatricians need to be aware of this issue. Facing children with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, health professionals should 1) diagnose excess weight; 2) advise on health care in times of isolation; 3) screen for comorbidities, ensuring that treatment is not interrupted; 4) measure levels of immunonutrients; 5) guide the family in understanding the specifics of the situation; and 6) refer to units qualified to care for obese children and adolescents when necessary.

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“…Hence, if one considers the COVID-19 lockdown period as an 'early onsetsummer holiday', it could be anticipated that the childhood obesity rate will rise proportionately to the number of months the schools remain closed. Indeed, in the US it was hypothesised that should schools remain closed till December 2020, an upsurge of 1.27 million new obesity cases among children will be recorded [19].…”

Section: Effect Of Closure Of Schools On Obesity Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19: a one-way ticket to a global childhood obesity crisis?

Cuschieri

Grech

2020

J Diabetes Metab Disord

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Obesity is a global epidemic based on three major pillars of (i) genetic (ii) behavioural and (iii) environmental determinants. The latter two pillars have been challenged during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic across all population age groups including children. The closure of schools resulted in decreased organised physical activity, increase in sedentary lifestyle and screen time with the possibility of stress-induced indulgence in high calorie dense and sugary foods, resulting in higher susceptibility to weight gain. The uncertainty faced by many Northern Hemisphere governments as the new scholastic year looms closer whether to open schools again or not further enhances the stress on the children and their family. Reopening of schools is beneficial for children's mental and physical health, and general wellbeing including the 'combating' of the childhood obesity epidemic. The family unit has also been challenged during this pandemic especially if the parent/s suffered redundancy. There have been attempts at seeing a silver lining as some families have embraced lockdowns as a means to strengthen their family bonds, increase homemade meals apart from the various virtual opportunities that were streamed on social media to encourage children to perform physical activity at home or in safe environments. However, curbing the viral spread while protecting population health will remain top priority until an effective COVID-19 vaccine is available. It is imperative to address other co-existing problems such as childhood obesity, which if uncontrolled may have a long-term profound health and economic consequence of higher eminence than the actual COVID-19 infection. The prevention and management of childhood obesity should be set as a priority at an individual, community and population level during this pandemic.

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Projecting the impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic on childhood obesity in the United States: A microsimulation model

Cited by 154 publications

References 20 publications

COVID-19 in Youth Soccer

COVID-19 in Youth Soccer

COVID-19 and obesity in childhood and adolescence: a clinical review

COVID-19: a one-way ticket to a global childhood obesity crisis?

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