Post COVID shift in BMI with special reference to dietary and behavioural pattern among adolescents: a school based study

Abstract

Background: Covid-19 was a life altering pandemic leading to children getting restricted indoors with online education. This led to a change in dietary and socio-behavioral pattern. Aim were to assess change in post-Covid BMI in comparison to pre-Covid BMI among adolescents and to determine post-Covid dietary and sleeping habits, screen time, physical activity, psycho-behavioral pattern using a structured questionnaire. Methods: This study was conducted among 108 adolescent and mother dyads studying in a higher secondary school, during November 2022 to March 2023 using a pre-structured questionnaire. Anthropometry measurements were taken and compared with pre-Covid data available in the medical records. Using SPSS 21, analysis was done and association determined using Chi square test (p<0.05 significant). Results: M:F ratio was 1:0.9. Among dietary pattern compared to pre-Covid 54.6% had increase quantity of food intake, of which 83.05% had increase consumption of JUNCS. 68.5% reported disturbances in sleep pattern. Increase in screen time for non-academic is 74% and 51.9% for academic purposes. 49% preferred leisure activity, 25% preferred moderate and 25.9% preferred vigorous physical activity. 60.1% experienced signs of anxiety. On comparison of pre and post-Covid BMI showed that there was an increase in overweight from 22.2% to 37.9% and obesity from 2.8% to 6.5% and was statistically significant. Conclusions: There were significant changes in the lifestyle pattern with a double fold increase in overweight and obesity in the post-Covid assessment. This is an eyeopener regarding future burden of non-communicable disease and a warning to impart healthy lifestyle.