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Overweight Prevalence Changes Before and After COVID-19 in Spain: The PESCA Program Longitudinal Outcomes 2018-2021
F Zarate-Osuna1,2,3, C Quesada-González1,4, A G Zapico1
1ImFINE Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte-INEF, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Nutrients
|December 17, 2024
Summary
The PESCA school program improved physical activity before COVID-19, but the pandemic and lockdowns led to increased overweight prevalence and screen time in children. This study highlights the negative impact of the pandemic on youth health behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Overweight prevalence in Spain was high pre-pandemic, with COVID-19 likely worsening the issue.
- The PESCA (Programa Escolar de Salud Cardio-vascular) program is a school-based intervention targeting youth overweight.
- The program aimed to reduce overweight rates and improve cardiovascular health in children and adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the PESCA program's effectiveness on body composition, overweight, physical activity, rest, and screen time before COVID-19.
- To evaluate the pandemic's and lockdown measures' impact on these health parameters.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 207 children and adolescents (ages 2.82-15.84) in Madrid.
- Three assessment points: two pre-COVID-19, one post-COVID-19 onset.
- Measured overweight prevalence, body fat, physical activity, resting time, and screen time; analyzed using Cochran's Q test and repeated-measures ANOVA.
Main Results:
- Overweight prevalence increased significantly post-COVID-19 (19.81% to 26.57%), despite stability pre-pandemic.
- Healthy body composition decreased from 63.16% to 52.48% after COVID-19 onset.
- Physical activity declined post-lockdown, while screen time significantly increased (1.70h to 2.29h).
Conclusions:
- The PESCA program showed positive effects on physical activity pre-COVID-19.
- Pandemic restrictions and lockdowns negatively impacted youth health behaviors, reversing prior gains.
- Urgent strategies are needed to mitigate the pandemic's long-term effects on child and adolescent health.
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