Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Measures on the Number of Meals and the Types of Physical Activity of Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Study in Delhi, India

Abstract

COVID-19 greatly affected the lives of adolescents through restrictions such as less playtime, more screen time, and limited interaction with peers. In this study, we assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dietary and physical activity-related behavior of school students aged 10–16 years. This cross-sectional study was conducted with adolescents recruited from seven randomly selected private schools in Delhi, India, during 2021. A self-administered web-based survey was conducted to evaluate the behavior of the participants before and during the pandemic. Of the 512 students (53% males) who participated in the survey, 39% gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a significant increase in the number of meals per day (p = 0.005) and a reduction in physical activity (p = 0.00) compared to the situation before the pandemic. The percentage of students who played indoor board and computer games increased from 13% to 46%. Students’s gender (p = 0.007) and parents’ education (mother: p = 0.003; father: p = 0.025) were significantly associated with physical activity during the pandemic. Higher socioeconomic status was significantly associated with consumption of more than two meals per day. The students who had working fathers with advanced/professional degrees were three times more likely [AOR 3.24, 95% CI (0.91–11.53)] to be physically active and eat a minimum of three major meals per day [AOR 3.21, 95% CI (1.77–5.81)] during the pandemic compared to those whose fathers were unemployed. This study highlighted the need for innovative strategies for adolescents and parents to adopt and practice a healthy lifestyle, especially during public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.