Presentation Type
Poster
Department
Dietetics
Location
Walker Conference Center B
Description
Background: Childhood obesity has been an ongoing public health concern through the years. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools went online causing changes in diet and physical activity of children. Children had a higher sedentary lifestyle than usual causing a decline of physical activity. This led to an increase on the prevalence of childhood obesity.
Objective: The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle changes in childhood obesity regarding nutrition status and physical activity.
Method: A quasi-systematic review was conducted. ProQuest, EbscoHost, PubMed and journals such as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the International Journal of Obesity were utilized to collect data. A total of 70 scholarly journals were used to assess factors that had impacts on childhood obesity.
Results: Overall, there was an increase in childhood obesity. The four main factors were food intake, physical activity (PA), other health aspects, and school closures. A higher consumption of ultra-processed foods, snacking, and home-cooked meals was detected. There was an increase on sleep time and schedule, screen time (ST), and a decrease of PA. The closing of schools played a role on weight gain as a result of reduced movement.
Conclusion: Childhood obesity has increased as an effect of COVID-19. Negative lifestyles were developed such as an increase of sedentary behaviors and unhealthy eating patterns.
Creative Commons License
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Included in
The Effects of COVID-19 on Childhood Obesity: A Quasi-Systematic Review
Walker Conference Center B
Background: Childhood obesity has been an ongoing public health concern through the years. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools went online causing changes in diet and physical activity of children. Children had a higher sedentary lifestyle than usual causing a decline of physical activity. This led to an increase on the prevalence of childhood obesity.
Objective: The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle changes in childhood obesity regarding nutrition status and physical activity.
Method: A quasi-systematic review was conducted. ProQuest, EbscoHost, PubMed and journals such as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the International Journal of Obesity were utilized to collect data. A total of 70 scholarly journals were used to assess factors that had impacts on childhood obesity.
Results: Overall, there was an increase in childhood obesity. The four main factors were food intake, physical activity (PA), other health aspects, and school closures. A higher consumption of ultra-processed foods, snacking, and home-cooked meals was detected. There was an increase on sleep time and schedule, screen time (ST), and a decrease of PA. The closing of schools played a role on weight gain as a result of reduced movement.
Conclusion: Childhood obesity has increased as an effect of COVID-19. Negative lifestyles were developed such as an increase of sedentary behaviors and unhealthy eating patterns.
Comments
This poster was presented in part of the 2021 Summer Research Project.