Study finds links between pandemic shutdown and childhood obesity

A new study has revealed that the COVID-19 lockdown in Barbados last year adversely affected the nutrition and health of an already vulnerable group of the population – children.

The survey, entitled The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nutrition and Health Practices in a Cohort of Obese Barbadian Children, was conducted among 25 juveniles between ages 10 and 19 who attend the Yute Gym programme of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB).

The sample assessment which compared the nutrition and health status of this cohort of obese and overweight children before the onset of COVID and after the lockdown, found that in some instances, the youngsters had put on as many as 41 pounds during the March to June 2020 lockdown.

According the study authored by Kimberley Rudder, sports nutritionist; Professor Anne St John, medical director for youth at the HSFB and a consultant pediatrician and Shawna Crichlow, a data analyst with the Ministry of Health Wellness’ STI/HIV Programme, an appraisal of the weight showed that 77 per cent of the children evaluated had higher weight post-COVID and 81 per cent had higher body fat readings.

“Significant statistical differences were revealed in the mean height and weight parameters only,” they reported.

“The increases in body fat observed were likely a result of consuming excess calories and increased physical inactivity. These findings are consistent with much evidence on associations between sedentary living and eating behaviours,” the authors submitted.

The food records showed low overall diet quality as children frequently did not meet dietary recommendations especially concerning the intake of fruit and vegetables.

The evidence suggests an urgent need for improvement in dietary quality among these overweight and obese children. Parents need to be more selective in their purchases and methods of food preparation at home, the report indicated.    

The restriction of sugar-sweetened beverages in the home is as important as ensuring unavailability in schools, it also stated.

Interviews revealed that children did not meet the WHO requirements for daily activities during the lockdown, hence the increases in body weight.

The study took account of some limitations, including the small sample size, absence of food intake records and information on participants’ body size and shape pre-COVID from the HSFB/Yute Gym record.

The report authors also pointed to a missed opportunity to aggressively promote healthy diets and physical activity in the campaign to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This, they said, was a major oversight given that headlines prior to the pandemic were all focused on non-communicable disease.

“Barbados, in its effort against the epidemic of non-communicable diseases and the pandemic clearly has challenges with implementing policies which effectively drive the required action to combat these health issues. This reflects an inherent weakness in policymakers’ strategies when designing health policies,” the investigators declared.

The authors proposed advocating practical home-based physical activities and publishing nutrition recommendations outlining practical strategies for achieving healthy dietary patterns among the recommendations.

They say that any future lockdowns should encourage home-based physical activity and minimize daily caloric excesses to save off potential ill-health. They added that children continue to grow and learn even during the lockdown and should be encouraged in healthy practices as far as possible in future lockdowns.

The authors noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children five to 17 years require at least 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity and to engage in dietary practices which support strong immune systems and general health.

They said that before the pandemic, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Barbadian children was one in three.

“Interestingly, in 2010, 75.3 per cent and 86.7 per cent of adolescent boys and girls respectively attained insufficient physical activity. An assessment of children’s diet and physical activity patterns revealed energy intake significantly explained body mass index,” the assessors pointed out.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb