Open AccessThe challenges of COVID-19-related weight gain in children
Author(s) -
Mira Florea,
Cluj-Napoca Pharmacy,
Lucia Maria Lotrean,
Aida Puia,
Ana Maria Alexandra Stănescu,
Anca A. Simionescu,
Rodica Cornean,
Bucharest Pharmacy
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
romanian journal of medical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2069-6108
pISSN - 1842-8258
DOI - 10.37897/rjmp.2021.s4.15
Subject(s) - pandemic , context (archaeology) , weight gain , psychological intervention , environmental health , obesity , medicine , epidemiology , psychology , gerontology , covid-19 , body weight , geography , psychiatry , disease , archaeology , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The current epidemiological context with online schooling, inadequate physical activity and sedentary behavior in response to the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to an increased risk of childhood obesity. Many children in the developed world were already sedentary and 81% of those aged 11-17 years were not physically active enough even before the pandemic, spending a lot of time using various electronic devices. This paper focuses on the COVID-19-related weight gain of children and expert recommendations to alleviate its long- term detrimental consequences, based on data from several countries collected and published in 2020 in 2021. It revise data regarding weight gain in several countries during COVID-19 pandemic, factors which influence weight gain with a special attention to the pandemic context and challenges and opportunities for appropriate weight management of children during this difficult times. Studies performed in developed countries have shown that the disruption of mealtimes, sleep habits and limited physical activity due to the pandemic have led to changes in children’s food habits and an increased body weight among, being noticed several differences based on country, age, gender and socio-economical level. We conclude on the need for an increased awareness among parents and healthcare professionals about the risk of children gaining body weight related to the life changes imposed by this long-lasting COVID-19 pandemic. Parent and child-based educational interventions, reset in this epidemiological context could positively influence children’s behavior to resort to eating comfort before developing resistance to change and improve the recognition and management of their nutritional status. Future research is needed to identify new educational strategies and school-based interventions for both children and parents, targeting an optimal and more active lifestyle to prevent childhood obesity.