When Pandemics Collide: The Impact of COVID-19 on Childhood Obesity

Browne, Nancy T.; Snethen, Julia; Greenberg, Cindy Smith; Frenn, Marilyn; Kilanowski, Jill F.; Gance‐Cleveland, Bonnie; Burke, Pamela; Lewandowski, Linda

doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2020.11.004

Cited by 139 publications

(175 citation statements)

References 95 publications

(106 reference statements)

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“…In the present study, a number of parents (5.1% of mothers and 2.9% of fathers) lost their job, while others (4.2% of mothers and 3.2% of fathers) experienced an increase of working time during the COVID-19 lockdown. These changes might be associated with parental stress and disturbances of family interactions, parental modeling, and parenting feeding practices at home [ 28 ]. Furthermore, the psychological impact of self-isolation may have triggered boredom and stress, which are determinants of the consumption of energy-dense “comfort foods” and emotional eating [ 5 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lifestyle Changes and Determinants of Children’s and Adolescents’ Body Weight Increase during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Greece: The COV-EAT Study

et al. 2021

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Previous studies showed that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown imposed changes in adults’ lifestyle behaviors; however, there is limited information regarding the effects on youth. The COV-EAT study aimed to report changes in children’s and adolescents’ lifestyle habits during the first COVID-19 lockdown and explore potential associations between changes of participants’ lifestyle behaviors and body weight. An online survey among 397 children/adolescents and their parents across 63 municipalities in Greece was conducted in April–May 2020. Parents self-reported changes of their children’s lifestyle habits and body weight, as well as sociodemographic data of their family. The present study shows that during the lockdown, children’s/adolescents’ sleep duration and screen time increased, while their physical activity decreased. Their consumption of fruits and fresh fruit juices, vegetables, dairy products, pasta, sweets, total snacks, and breakfast increased, while fast-food consumption decreased. Body weight increased in 35% of children/adolescents. A multiple regression analysis showed that the body weight increase was associated with increased consumption of breakfast, salty snacks, and total snacks and with decreased physical activity. The COV-EAT study revealed changes in children’s and adolescents’ lifestyle behaviors during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Greece. Effective strategies are needed to prevent excessive body weight gain in future COVID-19 lockdowns.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lifestyle Changes and Determinants of Children’s and Adolescents’ Body Weight Increase during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Greece: The COV-EAT Study

et al. 2021

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“…In addition, childhood obesity was a public health crisis before CoVID-19, and is projected to become worse due to the pandemic. 19,21,51 Decreased physical activity in adolescents may also have long-term negative effects and implications in terms of increased risk for obesity and cardiometabolic disease if these levels remain low for prolonged periods. 52 Chronically low levels of physical activity may also compound the mental health consequences of the current crisis and increase the risk 46,50 Returning high school sport opportunities is a complex issue and requires careful consideration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High School Sports During the CoVID-19 Pandemic: The Impact of Sport Participation on the Health of Adolescents

McGuine

Biese

Hetzel

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Context: During the fall of 2020, some high schools across the US allowed their students to participate in interscholastic sports while others cancelled or postponed their sport programs due to concerns regarding CoVID19 transmission. It is unknown what effect this has had on the physical and mental health of student athletes. Objective: Identify the impact of playing a sport during the CoVID19 pandemic on the health of student athletes. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Sample recruited via email. Patients or Other Participants: 559 Wisconsin high school athletes (age=15.7+1.2 yrs., female=44%) from 44 high schools completed an online survey in October 2020. A total of 171 (31%) athletes played (PLY) a fall sport, while 388 (69%) did not play (DNP). Main Outcome Measure(s): Demographics included: sex, grade and sports played. Assessments included the General Anxiety Disorder-7 Item (GAD-7) for anxiety, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item (PHQ-9) for depression, the Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (PFABS) for physical activity, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) for quality of life. Univariable comparisons between the two groups were made via t-tests or chi-square tests. Means for each continuous outcome measure were compared between the groups by ANOVA models that controlled for Age, Sex, Teaching method (Virtual, Hybrid, or In-person), and the % of students eligible for free lunch. RESULTS: PLY group participants were less likely to report moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety (PLY=6.6%, DNP=44.1%, p<0.001) and depression (PLY=18.2%, DNP=40.4%, p<0.001). PLY athletes reported higher (better) PFABS scores (mean: [95%CI]), (PLY=23.2[22.0,24.5], DNP=16.4[15.0,17.8], p <0.001) and higher (better) PedsQL total scores (PLY=88.4[85.9,90.9], DNP=79.6[76.8,82.4], p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents who played a sport during the CoVID19 pandemic reported fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as higher physical activity and quality of life scores compared to adolescent athletes who did not play a sport.

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“…Childhood obesity was a health care crisis prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that is increasing in the US and is projected to become worse due to the pandemic. 28,29,52 A decrease in physical activity and increase in stress may increase the risk of severe COVID-19 cases in obese children. 29 Decreased physical activity in adolescents may also have longer-term negative effects and implications in terms of increased risk for obesity and cardiometabolic disease if these levels remain low for prolonged periods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…28,29,52 A decrease in physical activity and increase in stress may increase the risk of severe COVID-19 cases in obese children. 29 Decreased physical activity in adolescents may also have longer-term negative effects and implications in terms of increased risk for obesity and cardiometabolic disease if these levels remain low for prolonged periods. 53 Chronically low levels of physical activity may also compound the mental health consequences of the current crisis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…26 Quantifying the changes to the health of adolescent athletes that occurred during the CoVID-19 pandemic is critical to understand how these issues impacted athletes in order to to improve management in the future. [27][28][29] This information will allow sports medicine providers, school administrators and health care policy experts to implement strategies to improve the short-term and long-term mental and physical health of adolescent athletes in the months and years to come as we transition from the CoVID-19 pandemic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in the Health of Adolescent Athletes: A Comparison of Health Measures Collected Before and During the CoVID-19 Pandemic

McGuine

Biese

Hetzel

et al. 2021

Preprint

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ContextIn the spring of 2020, schools closed to in-person teaching and sports were cancelled to control the transmission of CoVID-19. The changes that took place to the physical and mental health among young athletes during this time remain unknown, however.ObjectiveIdentify changes in the health (mental health, physical activity and quality of life) of athletes that occurred during the CoVID-19 pandemic.DesignCross sectional study.SettingSample recruited via social media.Patients or Other Participants3243 Wisconsin adolescent athletes (age=16.2±1.2 yrs., female=58% female) completed an online survey in May 2020 (DuringCoVID-19). Health measures for this cohort were compared with previously reported data for Wisconsin adolescent athletes (n=5231, age=15.7±1.2, 47% female) collected in 2016–2018 (PreCoVID-19).Main Outcome Measure(s)Demographic information included: sex, grade and sports played. Health assessments included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item (PHQ-9) to identify depression symptoms, the Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (PFABS) for physical activity, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) for health related quality of life (HRQoL). Univariable comparisons of these variables between groups were made via t-tests or chi-square tests. Means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each group were estimated by survey weighted ANOVA models.RESULTSCompared to PreCoVID-19, a larger proportion of the During-CoVID-19 participants reported rates of moderate to severe levels of depression (9.7% vs 32.9%, p<0.001). During-CoVID-19 participants reported 50% lower (worse) PFABS scores (mean:12.2 [95%CI: 11.9, 12.5] vs 24.7 [24.5, 24.9] p<0.001) and lower (worse) PedsQL total scores compared to the PreCoVID-19 participants (78.4 [78.0, 78.8] vs. 90.9 [90.5, 91.3] p<0.001).CONCLUSIONSDuring the CoVID-19 pandemic, adolescent athletes reported increased symptoms of depression, decreased physical activity and decreased quality of life compared to adolescent athletes in previous years.Key pointsAdolescent athletes during CoVID-19 were three times more likely to report moderate to severe symptoms of depression compared to data collected prior to CoVID-19.Adolescent athletes during CoVID-19 reported significantly lower physical activity and quality of life scores compared to high school athletes prior to the CoVID-19 pandemicPost CoVID-19 policies should be implemented to improve the health of adolescent athletes in the US.

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When Pandemics Collide: The Impact of COVID-19 on Childhood Obesity

Cited by 139 publications

References 95 publications

Lifestyle Changes and Determinants of Children’s and Adolescents’ Body Weight Increase during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Greece: The COV-EAT Study

Lifestyle Changes and Determinants of Children’s and Adolescents’ Body Weight Increase during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Greece: The COV-EAT Study

High School Sports During the CoVID-19 Pandemic: The Impact of Sport Participation on the Health of Adolescents

Changes in the Health of Adolescent Athletes: A Comparison of Health Measures Collected Before and During the CoVID-19 Pandemic

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