Changes in Healthy Behaviors and Meeting 24-h Movement Guidelines in Spanish and Brazilian Preschoolers, Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Lockdown.

José Francisco López-Gil,Mark S Tremblay,Javier Brazo-Sayavera

doi:10.3390/children8020083

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess changes in physical activity, screen time and sleep duration of preschoolers, children and adolescents and the prevalence of meeting the 24-h movement guidelines during the lockdown caused by COVID-19 in a sample from Spain and Brazil. Methods: A total of 1099 preschoolers, children and adolescents (aged 3–17 years) from Spain (12.1 ± 4.6 years) and Brazil (10.7 ± 4.3 years) were included. An online survey was created and distributed in each country using a snowball sampling strategy. This online survey was completed by parents (mother/father/responsible guardian). Results: The proportion of the sample who met the PA and ST recommendations decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown in both Spanish and Brazilian samples (p < 0.001), while sleep duration increased (p < 0.001). The proportion of the sample meeting the overall 24-h movement guidelines was very low before the lockdown (Spain 3.0%; Brazil 11.7%) and even worse during the lockdown (Spain 0.3%; Brazil 7.5%). Conclusions: The prevalence of preschoolers, children and adolescents in both the Spain and Brazil samples meeting the 24-h movement guidelines during COVID-19 restrictions was as low as previous studies in other countries. Efforts to protect and support healthy behaviors of young people during a period of pandemic restrictions need to be a priority.

Highlights

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in profound health, social and economical consequences
A higher number of parents with complete higher education was reported in the Brazilian sample (70.9 vs. 31.0) (p < 0.001)
screen time (ST) during the period of imposed isolation was higher compared to the period before the lockdown for all age groups in both Spanish and Brazilian samples (p < 0.001)

Summary

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in profound health, social and economical consequences. 24-h movement guidelines recommend that preschoolers, aged 3–4 years, should accumulate at least 180 min of physical activity (PA), engage in no more than 1 h sedentary screen time (ST) and have 10–13 h good-quality sleep per day [3]. The aim of this study was to assess changes in physical activity, screen time and sleep duration of preschoolers, children and adolescents and the prevalence of meeting the 24-h movement guidelines during the lockdown caused by COVID-19 in a sample from Spain and Brazil. Conclusions: The prevalence of preschoolers, children and adolescents in both the Spain and Brazil samples meeting the 24-h movement guidelines during COVID-19 restrictions was as low as previous studies in other countries. Efforts to protect and support healthy behaviors of young people during a period of pandemic restrictions need to be a priority

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