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Increased Weight Gain of Children during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Michal Vinker-Shuster1, Ephraim S Grossman2, Yonatan Yeshayahu1,3,4

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Assuta Ashdod University Medical Center, Ashdod, Israel.

The Israel Medical Association Journal : IMAJ
|April 26, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 lockdown led to increased pediatric weight, particularly in boys and young children. This study highlights the impact of sedentary lifestyles on child weight during public health crises.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated strict social-distancing measures, including prolonged lockdowns.
  • These regulations enforced a sedentary lifestyle among children and adolescents, raising concerns about potential health impacts, especially on weight.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the weight of pediatric patients.
  • To analyze changes in weight-percentile-for-age before and after the lockdown period.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective-prospective cohort study was conducted involving 229 pediatric patients (aged 0-18 years).
  • Weight-percentile-for-age was calculated using CDC and WHO growth charts, comparing pre- and post-lockdown data.
  • Paired t-tests and multivariate linear regression were used for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

  • The overall mean weight-percentile for age significantly increased post-lockdown (40.44 vs. 38.82, P=0.029).
  • Boys showed a significant rise in weight-percentile (37.66 vs. 34.42, P=0.014), while younger children (<6 years) also experienced a significant increase (39.18 vs. 33.58, P=0.021).
  • These findings were confirmed by multivariate analysis.

Conclusions:

  • The COVID-19 lockdown contributed to a significant increase in pediatric weight, particularly among boys and younger children.
  • The findings underscore the adverse effects of enforced sedentary behavior on child weight during public health emergencies and the need for interventions.
Abstract

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