Impact and Recovery of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Weight Status of Children and Adolescents

Overview

Journal Clin Obes

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2023 Jan 22

PMID 36682362

Authors

Diana M Bond

Radhika Seimon

Francisco J Schneuer

Louise A Baur

Maria Craig

Shirley Alexander

Sarah P Garnett

Joanne Henderson

Natasha Nassar

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests the immediate effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions have resulted in increased weight in children and adolescents. However, the longer-term effects have not been assessed. The aim of this study was to examine the impact and longer-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on BMI and weight status of children and adolescents. This study used routinely collected clinical data from the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, comprising two socio-demographically diverse children's hospitals in New South Wales, Australia from 2018 to 2021. Of 245 836 individuals ≤18-years assessed, mean BMI percentile increased from 58.7 (SD 31.6) pre-COVID-19 to 59.8 (SD 31.7) (p < .05) post-restrictions and overweight/obesity increased by 5.5% (obesity alone 6.3%), predominantly in children <12-years and from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The trend in BMI percentile was steady pre-COVID-19 (β = -0.03 [95% CI -0.07, 0.01]), peaked immediately following COVID-19 restrictions (β = 1.28 [95% CI 0.24, 2.32]) and returned to pre-pandemic levels over ensuing 21 months (β = -0.04 [95% CI -0.13, 0.04]). Routine anthropometric measurement facilitates ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the weight status of children and adolescents, helping to identify those at-risk. Despite initial BMI and weight increases among children and adolescents, longer-term follow-up highlighted a return to pre-pandemic rates, possibly attributed to state-wide policies aimed at reducing childhood obesity.

Citing Articles

Impact of lockdown on the growth of children in China aged 3-6 years during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cai P, Liu Y, Yang Z, Luo Y, Zhang Y, Ye P Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024; 14:1301889.

PMID: 38234429 PMC: 10791918. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1301889.

COVID-19 pandemic-related weight gain in the pediatric population declined after restrictions ended, except among obese patients.

Irschik S, Brandt J, Eisenkolbl J Front Public Health. 2023; 11:1260269.

PMID: 37942242 PMC: 10628554. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1260269.

Pediatric COVID-19 and Diabetes: An Investigation into the Intersection of Two Pandemics.

Fotea S, Ghiciuc C, Stefanescu G, Cianga A, Mihai C, Lupu A Diagnostics (Basel). 2023; 13(14).

PMID: 37510181 PMC: 10378192. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13142436.

Endocrine manifestations of COVID-19 in children: A scoping review.

Seneviratne S, Kumarihamy Karunathilake C, Pallegama C, Malintha Lahiru T, Jayarajah U Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023; 37(4):101792.

PMID: 37453832 PMC: 10303324. DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2023.101792.

Impact and recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic on weight status of children and adolescents.

Bond D, Seimon R, Schneuer F, Baur L, Craig M, Alexander S Clin Obes. 2023; 13(2):e12579.

PMID: 36682362 PMC: 10909548. DOI: 10.1111/cob.12579.

References

Withrow D, Alter D . The economic burden of obesity worldwide: a systematic review of the direct costs of obesity. Obes Rev. 2010; 12(2):131-41. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00712.x. View

Rundle A, Factor-Litvak P, Suglia S, Susser E, Kezios K, Lovasi G . Tracking of Obesity in Childhood into Adulthood: Effects on Body Mass Index and Fat Mass Index at Age 50. Child Obes. 2020; 16(3):226-233. PMC: 7099417. DOI: 10.1089/chi.2019.0185. View

Baysun S, Akar M . WEIGHT GAIN IN CHILDREN DURING THE COVID-19 QUARANTINE PERIOD. J Paediatr Child Health. 2020; 56(9):1487-1488. PMC: 7436814. DOI: 10.1111/jpc.15105. View

Franckle R, Adler R, Davison K . Accelerated weight gain among children during summer versus school year and related racial/ethnic disparities: a systematic review. Prev Chronic Dis. 2014; 11:E101. PMC: 4060873. DOI: 10.5888/pcd11.130355. View

Lange S, Kompaniyets L, Freedman D, Kraus E, Porter R, Blanck H . Longitudinal Trends in Body Mass Index Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Persons Aged 2-19 Years - United States, 2018-2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021; 70(37):1278-1283. PMC: 8445379. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7037a3. View

Foley B, Owen K, Bellew W, Wolfenden L, Reilly K, Bauman A . Physical Activity Behaviors of Children Who Register for the Universal, State-Wide Active Kids Voucher: Who Did the Voucher Program Reach?. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(16). PMC: 7460334. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165691. View

Vinker-Shuster M, Grossman E, Yeshayahu Y . Increased Weight Gain of Children during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Isr Med Assoc J. 2021; 23(4):219-222. View

Burkart S, Parker H, Weaver R, Beets M, Jones A, Adams E . Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on elementary schoolers' physical activity, sleep, screen time and diet: A quasi-experimental interrupted time series study. Pediatr Obes. 2021; 17(1):e12846. PMC: 8420216. DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12846. View

Bond D, Seimon R, Schneuer F, Baur L, Craig M, Alexander S . Impact and recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic on weight status of children and adolescents. Clin Obes. 2023; 13(2):e12579. PMC: 10909548. DOI: 10.1111/cob.12579. View

10.

Lopez-Bueno R, Lopez-Sanchez G, Casajus J, Calatayud J, Tully M, Smith L . Potential health-related behaviors for pre-school and school-aged children during COVID-19 lockdown: A narrative review. Prev Med. 2020; 143:106349. PMC: 7701882. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106349. View

11.

Brazendale K, Beets M, Weaver R, Pate R, Turner-McGrievy G, Kaczynski A . Understanding differences between summer vs. school obesogenic behaviors of children: the structured days hypothesis. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017; 14(1):100. PMC: 5530518. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-017-0555-2. View

12.

Chang T, Chen Y, Chen W, Chen C, Hsu W, Chou Y . Weight Gain Associated with COVID-19 Lockdown in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2021; 13(10). PMC: 8540321. DOI: 10.3390/nu13103668. View

13.

Foley B, Owen K, Bauman A, Bellew W, Reece L . Effects of the Active Kids voucher program on children and adolescents' physical activity: a natural experiment evaluating a state-wide intervention. BMC Public Health. 2021; 21(1):22. PMC: 7798231. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-10060-5. View

14.

Reece L, Foley B, Bellew W, Owen K, Cushway D, Srinivasan N . Active Kids: evaluation protocol for a universal voucher program to increase children's participation in organised physical activity and sport. Public Health Res Pract. 2021; 31(2). DOI: 10.17061/phrp30122006. View

15.

Stavridou A, Kapsali E, Panagouli E, Thirios A, Polychronis K, Bacopoulou F . Obesity in Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 Pandemic. Children (Basel). 2021; 8(2). PMC: 7918914. DOI: 10.3390/children8020135. View

16.

Brooks C, Spencer J, Sprafka J, Roehl K, Ma J, Londhe A . Pediatric BMI changes during COVID-19 pandemic: An electronic health record-based retrospective cohort study. EClinicalMedicine. 2021; 38:101026. PMC: 8318998. DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101026. View

17.

Reilly J, Methven E, McDowell Z, Hacking B, Alexander D, Stewart L . Health consequences of obesity. Arch Dis Child. 2003; 88(9):748-52. PMC: 1719633. DOI: 10.1136/adc.88.9.748. View

18.

Vazquez C, Cubbin C . Socioeconomic Status and Childhood Obesity: a Review of Literature from the Past Decade to Inform Intervention Research. Curr Obes Rep. 2020; 9(4):562-570. DOI: 10.1007/s13679-020-00400-2. View

19.

Cole T, Bellizzi M, Flegal K, Dietz W . Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ. 2000; 320(7244):1240-3. PMC: 27365. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.320.7244.1240. View

20.

Knapp E, Dong Y, Dunlop A, Aschner J, Stanford J, Hartert T . Changes in BMI During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Pediatrics. 2022; 150(3). PMC: 9444980. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-056552. View