Are the pandemic process and restrictions a risk factor for changes in eating habits and development of obesity in children in the late period?

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic process and restrictions affect eating behaviors and habits in children in the late period and the late period effects of this process on childhood obesity. Method: The study group was composed of students living and continuing their education in the province of Malatya. The survey was conducted in May 2021 on 4324 students who agreed to participate in the study and met the inclusion criteria. The way of measuring height and body weight was described, and new communication technology was used with the Google survey platform. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Standards were used for the evaluation of height and body weight measurements. Results: 1839 (42.5%) of the participants were male. The ages of the students ranged from 9‐17, and their mean age was 13.38±2.06 years. The current mean body weight of the students was 51.56 ± 15.105 kg, and the mean bodyweight one year ago was calculated as 46.02 ± 13.728 kg. When the current body mass index percentiles of the students were evaluated according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards, 1.2% were found to be thin, 87.9% normal and 10.8% obese. When the percentiles of body mass index one year ago were evaluated, 2.5% were found to be thin, 89.6% normal and 7.9% obese. When the body weights of the previous year and current were compared, there was a significant difference between the thin patients (p<0.05) and the obese ones, as well (p0.05). In the development of obesity during the pandemic process and the restriction period, it was determined that the changes in their regular eating habits, the conditions of their place and home, the time spent with technological devices, the daily physical activity time, mother's education and working status, the time they spent asleep and the fear they experienced were effective (p<0.05). It was observed that this effect of pandemic process and restrictions increasing the development of obesity was independent of personal data such as the child's blood group, breastfeeding and nutritional status in infancy, chronic disease, and birth type (p>0.05). We found that during the pandemic process and the restriction period, their regular meal habits were negatively affected, their appetite increased, convenience food and fast food consumption did not increase significantly, and fruit and vegetable consumption increased (p <0.05). Conclusions: We determined that the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions triggered the development of obesity in children in the late period. It can be said that the effect on the development of obesity is due to the restriction of physical activities of children, changes in eating habits, increased time spent inactive by using technological devices more, and psychological effects related to the stress experienced.