Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Children's Eating Behaviours: A Longitudinal Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Behavioral Psychology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered children's lifestyles and eating habits, contributing to rising obesity rates.
• Disruptions to daily routines during lockdown periods have psychological consequences impacting child behavior.
• The Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) is a validated tool for assessing eating behaviors in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in children's eating behaviors before and during the COVID-19 lockdown.
• To assess the impact of lockdown containment measures on pediatric eating patterns.
• To identify specific eating behaviors affected by pandemic-related lifestyle changes.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving children attending a pediatric clinic.
• Utilized the Italian version of the parent-report Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ).
• Surveys were conducted before lockdown and repeated via telephone during the lockdown period for 69 children.

Main Results:

• Higher scores in food responsiveness and emotional overeating were observed during lockdown (p=0.009, p=0.001).
• Lower scores for desire to drink and satiety responsiveness were noted during lockdown (p=0.04, p=0.0001).
• Greater changes in eating behaviors were found in normal-weight children compared to those with obesity (p=0.02).

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 containment measures triggered specific eating behaviors that promote an obesogenic lifestyle.
• Lockdown measures influenced key aspects of children's eating behavior, including responsiveness to food cues and emotional eating.
• The study highlights the need to address pandemic-related behavioral shifts to mitigate long-term health consequences like obesity.