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Impact of COVID-19 on childhood obesity: Data from a paediatric weight management trial

Michelle Trivedi1,2, Christine Frisard2, Sybil Crawford3

  • 1Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.

Pediatric Obesity
|July 25, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic worsened childhood obesity, with children experiencing increased BMI and decreased activity post-pandemic. This highlights the need for public health strategies to address pandemic-related effects on pediatric weight management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Public Health
  • Behavioral Medicine

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic is a growing concern for exacerbating childhood obesity.
  • Understanding pandemic-related impacts on pediatric weight and behaviors is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on weight and weight-related behaviors in children with overweight and obesity.
  • To compare outcomes between children whose study visits occurred before and after the pandemic's onset.

Main Methods:

  • Secondary analysis of 373 children (aged 8-12 years) from a randomized controlled trial.
  • Comparison of BMI, activity levels, caloric intake, and screen time between pre- and post-pandemic onset groups.

Main Results:

  • The monthly rate of BMI increase more than doubled in the post-pandemic onset group (0.13 kg/m² vs 0.05 kg/m²).
  • Children in the post-pandemic group showed a significant decrease in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels.
  • No significant differences were observed in caloric intake or screen time between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic onset was associated with increased weight gain and reduced physical activity in children with overweight and obesity.
  • Findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions to mitigate pandemic-related adverse effects on pediatric obesity.

Keywords:
COVID-19childhood obesitychildhood overweightcoronavirus disease 19weight gain

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