The Risk Factors of Obesity in Children during COVID-19 Pandemic Era in Gorontalo City

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a condition that is often associated with an increased risk of infection for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, which can be fatal or even cause death. AIM: The study aimed to analyze the risk factors of obesity incidents in children during COVID-19 pandemic era in Gorontalo City. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The risk factors for obesity include physical activity, history of obesity, fast food consumption, sleep duration at night, and breakfast. It applied analytical observational research with a case–control study design, matching the gender and age. The case was students when measured with a body mass index (BMI) equal to or above 25 kg/m2, while the control was student when measured with a BMI of 18.5–22.9 kg/m2. At the same time, the numbers of samples were 150 children in which the sampling was carried out non-random by applying purposive sampling technique. RESULTS: Finding denoted that all the variables examined significantly correlated with obesity incidents during COVID-19 pandemic, with odds ratio (OR) value was <1. Specifically, the physical activity variable had the highest OR value compared to other variables, namely, OR 2.939, and this meant that adolescents who do not exercise or exercise <3 times a week during the COVID-19 period were at 2.939 times risk compared to adolescents who exercise 3 times a week. CONCLUSION: The finding of this study concluded that in the COVID-19 pandemic era, physical activity or exercise is the most influential risk factor for the incidence of obesity compared to other variables.