The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Sarcopenic Obesity Among Children Between 6 and 10 years of Age: a Prospective Study

Overview

Journal Eur J Pediatr

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2025 Mar 14

PMID 40085248

Authors

Bahar Oztelcan Gunduz

Aysu Duyan Camurdan

Mucahit Yildiz

Fatma Nur Baran Aksakal

Emine Nukhet Unsal

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the body composition of children, resulting in an increased prevalence of obesity and sarcopenic obesity. This research highlights the critical importance of engaging in regular physical activity, consuming a balanced diet, and obtaining sufficient sleep, particularly during times of crisis.

What Is Known: • Sarcopenic obesity is a complex metabolic condition characterized by reduced muscle mass and increased adipose tissue. • COVID-19 pandemic-related physical inactivity potentially has led to adverse effects on muscle mass composition.

What Is New: • First comprehensive assessment of sarcopenic obesity development in children during the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing advanced bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to evaluate changes in muscle mass and adipose tissue. • Systematic evaluation of the impact of sedentary lifestyle and dietary habits on sarcopenic obesity during the unprecedented lockdown period.

References

Benson A, Torode M, Fiatarone Singh M . Muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with higher insulin sensitivity in children and adolescents. Int J Pediatr Obes. 2007; 1(4):222-31. DOI: 10.1080/17477160600962864. View

Kim T, Park M, Lim K, Yang S, Yoo H, Kang H . Skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area ratio is associated with metabolic syndrome and arterial stiffness: The Korean Sarcopenic Obesity Study (KSOS). Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2011; 93(2):285-291. DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2011.06.013. View

Jebeile H, Kelly A, OMalley G, Baur L . Obesity in children and adolescents: epidemiology, causes, assessment, and management. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022; 10(5):351-365. PMC: 9831747. DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00047-X. View

McCarthy H, Samani-Radia D, Jebb S, Prentice A . Skeletal muscle mass reference curves for children and adolescents. Pediatr Obes. 2013; 9(4):249-59. DOI: 10.1111/j.2047-6310.2013.00168.x. View

Neyzi O, Furman A, Bundak R, Gunoz H, Darendeliler F, Bas F . Growth references for Turkish children aged 6 to 18 years. Acta Paediatr. 2006; 95(12):1635-41. DOI: 10.1080/08035250600652013. View

Liu J, Yan Y, Xi B, Huang G, Mi J . Skeletal muscle reference for Chinese children and adolescents. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2018; 10(1):155-164. PMC: 6438334. DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12361. View

Karatzi K, Poulia K, Papakonstantinou E, Zampelas A . The Impact of Nutritional and Lifestyle Changes on Body Weight, Body Composition and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents during the Pandemic of COVID-19: A Systematic Review. Children (Basel). 2021; 8(12). PMC: 8700559. DOI: 10.3390/children8121130. View

Browne N, Snethen J, Greenberg C, Frenn M, Kilanowski J, Gance-Cleveland B . When Pandemics Collide: The Impact of COVID-19 on Childhood Obesity. J Pediatr Nurs. 2020; 56:90-98. PMC: 7657263. DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2020.11.004. View

Ochoa-Moreno I, Taheem R, Woods-Townsend K, Chase D, Godfrey K, Modi N . Projected health and economic effects of the increase in childhood obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic in England: The potential cost of inaction. PLoS One. 2024; 19(1):e0296013. PMC: 10807834. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296013. View

10.

Salman H, Issi Irlayici F, Akcam M . The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Prevalence of Childhood Obesity in Turkiye. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022; 76(1):e15-e19. PMC: 9760371. DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003641. View

11.

Razi M, Nasiri A . Concerns of parents about children's overweight and obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. J Pediatr Nurs. 2021; 63:111-116. PMC: 8596191. DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.11.012. View

12.

Pietrobelli A, Pecoraro L, Ferruzzi A, Heo M, Faith M, Zoller T . Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Lifestyle Behaviors in Children with Obesity Living in Verona, Italy: A Longitudinal Study. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2020; 28(8):1382-1385. PMC: 7267384. DOI: 10.1002/oby.22861. View

13.

Hirshkowitz M, Whiton K, Albert S, Alessi C, Bruni O, DonCarlos L . National Sleep Foundation's updated sleep duration recommendations: final report. Sleep Health. 2017; 1(4):233-243. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2015.10.004. View

14.

Wong O, Au C, Yuen H, Yu K, Lan Q, Chan N . Impact of COVID-19 on the sleep-wake patterns of preschool children. Sleep Med. 2022; 101:50-57. PMC: 9595417. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2022.10.012. View

15.

Lucchini M, Bekelman T, Li M, Knapp E, Dong Y, Ballard S . Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's sleep habits: an ECHO study. Pediatr Res. 2022; 93(3):586-594. PMC: 9531212. DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02309-z. View

16.

Wu Y, Zhai L, Zhang D . Sleep duration and obesity among adults: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. Sleep Med. 2014; 15(12):1456-62. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2014.07.018. View

17.

Schmidt S, Anedda B, Burchartz A, Eichsteller A, Kolb S, Nigg C . Physical activity and screen time of children and adolescents before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Germany: a natural experiment. Sci Rep. 2020; 10(1):21780. PMC: 7733438. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78438-4. View

18.

Ammar A, Brach M, Trabelsi K, Chtourou H, Boukhris O, Masmoudi L . Effects of COVID-19 Home Confinement on Eating Behaviour and Physical Activity: Results of the ECLB-COVID19 International Online Survey. Nutrients. 2020; 12(6). PMC: 7352706. DOI: 10.3390/nu12061583. View

19.

Aggio D, Sartini C, Papacosta O, Lennon L, Ash S, Whincup P . Cross-sectional associations of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time with sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in older men. Prev Med. 2016; 91:264-272. PMC: 5061552. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.08.040. View

20.

Janssen I, LeBlanc A . Systematic review of the health benefits of physical activity and fitness in school-aged children and youth. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010; 7:40. PMC: 2885312. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-7-40. View