admin Research reveals obese kids under lockdown in Italy ate more junk food, watched more TV at expense of physical activity
Lockdowns implemented worldwide amid COVID-19 pandemic have negatively impacted diet, sleep and physical activity among children with obesity, according to University at Buffalo research.
The study, published in the month of April in Obesity, tested 41 overweight children under confinement throughout March and April in Verona, Italy.
Compared to behaviours recorded in one year prior, the children ate an extra meal per day; slept an extra half hour per day; spend nearly five hours per day in front of phone, computer and television screens; and eventually increased their consumption of red meat, sugary drinks and junk foods.
On the other hand, physical activity is decreased by more than two hours per week, and the amount of vegetables intake remained unchanged.
The study was led by Steven Heymsfield, MD, professor at the Louisiana State University Pennington Biomedical Research Center; and Angelo Pietrobelli, MD, professor at the University of Verona in Italy.
According to Myles Faith, PhD, UB childhood obesity expert and co-author on the study says,
“The tragic COVID-19 pandemic has collateral effects extending beyond direct viral infection”, “Children and teens struggling with obesity are placed in an unfortunate position of isolation that appears to create an unfavorable environment for maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviors.”
“Recognizing these adverse collateral effects of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown is critical in avoiding the depreciation of hard-fought weight control efforts among youths afflicted with excess weight,” states Faith, chair and professor of counseling, school and educational psychology in the UB Graduate School of Education.
Children and adolescents typically gain more weight during summer vacation than during the school year, which led the researchers to wonder if being homebound would have a similar effect on the kids’ lifestyle behaviors, says Faith.
“School environments provide structure and routine around mealtimes, physical activity and sleep — three predominant lifestyle factors implicated in obesity risk,” he adds.
The researchers examined 41 children and teens with obesity in Verona, Italy, who were involved in an ongoing long-term study. Lifestyle information regarding diet, physical activity and sleep was collected three weeks into Italy’s mandatory national lockdown and compared to data on the children collected in 2019. Questions emphasis on physical activity, screen time, sleep, eating habits, and the intake of red meat, pasta, snacks, fruits and vegetables.
The results showed the negative change in behavior, indicating that children with obesity fare worse on weight control lifestyle programs while at home compared to when they are engaged in their school curriculum.
“Depending on the duration of the lockdown, the excess weight gained may not be easily reversible and might contribute to obesity during adulthood if healthier behaviors are not re-established”, “This is because childhood and adolescent obesity tend to track over time and predict weight status as adults,” says Faith.
According to Faith, there is a need to establish and evaluate telemedicine programs that encourage families to maintain healthy lifestyle choices during lockdown.
Faith and colleagues are conducting an ongoing National Institutes of Health-funded study that is examining a family-based treatment for childhood obesity using telemedicine technology that lets participants to be treated in their homes.
Story Source : University at Buffalo
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