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Changes in lifestyle behaviours during the COVID ‐19 confinement in Spanish children: A longitudinal analysis from the MUGI project
Author(s) -
Medrano María,
CadenasSanchez Cristina,
Oses Maddi,
Arenaza Lide,
Amasene Maria,
Labayen Idoia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pediatric obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.226
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 2047-6310
pISSN - 2047-6302
DOI - 10.1111/ijpo.12731
Subject(s) - medicine , screen time , covid-19 , physical activity , pandemic , sedentary lifestyle , mediterranean diet , longitudinal study , demography , gerontology , physical therapy , disease , pathology , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Summary Background Home confinement during the COVID‐19 pandemic could have affected lifestyle behaviours of children, however evidence about it is emerging and yet scarce. Objectives To examine the effects of the COVID‐19 confinement on lifestyle behaviours in Spanish children, and to assess the influence of social vulnerabilities on changes in lifestyle behaviours. Methods Physical activity (PA), screen time, sleep time, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (KIDMED) and sociodemographic information were longitudinally assessed before (N = 291, 12.1 ± 2.4 years, 47.8% girls) and during the COVID‐19 confinement (N = 113, 12.0 ± 2.6 years, 48.7% girls) by online questionnaires. Results During the COVID‐19 confinement, PA (−91 ± 55 min/d, P < .001) and screen time (±2.6 h/d, P < .001) worsened, whereas the KIDMED score improved (0.5 ± 2.2 points, P < .02). The decrease of PA was higher in children with mother of non‐Spanish origin (−1.8 ± 0.2 vs −1.5 ± 0.1 h/d, P < .04) or with non‐university studies (−1.7 ± 0.1 vs −1.3 ± 0.1 h/d, P < .005) in comparison to their counterparts. Conclusion This study evidence the negative impact of the COVID‐19 confinement on PA levels and sedentary behaviours of Spanish children. These findings should be taken into account to design and implement public health strategies for preserving children´s health during and after the pandemic, particularly, in children with social vulnerabilities.