Abstract
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the measures taken by most countries to curb virus transmission, such as social distancing, distance learning, population, home confinement and disruption of all organized activities, has affected children and adolescents worldwide. The aim of this review was to assess the role of diet and lifestyle changes due to COVID-19 measures on body weight/composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents. An electronic search was conducted in PUBMED, COCHRANE, Google Scholar and SCOPUS databases up to 31 October 2021. 15 eligible studies were identified. According to the studies included in the analysis, COVID-19 measures seem to have had a negative impact on the diets and lifestyles of children and adolescents, with a consequent increase in body weight and central fat accumulation. On the other hand, the parental presence and control resulted in better glycaemic control in children with diabetes mellitus (DM) Type 1, but the effect of the pandemic in the glycaemic control of children with DM2 2 is controversial. Finally, diet and lifestyle changes had a differential impact on children’s hypertension prevalence. These findings point to the need for public policy measures to prevent obesity and its complications, to and improve diet and lifestyle during the continuing and yet unresolved COVID-19 epidemic.
Highlights
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is one of the most serious pandemics worldwide that has infected and killed millions of people
The aim of this review was to assess the role of diet and lifestyle changes due to COVID-19 measures on body weight/composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents
According to the studies included in the analysis, COVID-19 measures seem to have had a negative impact on the diets and lifestyles of children and adolescents, with a consequent increase in body weight and central fat accumulation
Summary
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is one of the most serious pandemics worldwide that has infected and killed millions of people. Several preventive measures have been taken by most of the countries on all continents, such as the limitation of travelling, distance learning in all educational levels, tele-working, and total confinement of the general population at home These measures, known as lockdown, caused disruption of daily activities in all ages due to the need for social distancing to control the epidemiology of the disease [1]. The abrupt interruption of organized physical activities such as sports are paralleled with increased sedentary habits and screen time due to the inability to perform social gathering, distance learning, cancellation of the function of recreation programs and playgrounds and confinement at home These changes have affected sleep quality and duration. The consequent disproportion between energy intake and energy spent inevitably resulted in a positive energy balance, increased fat disposition and weight gain [2,6]
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