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Children and COVID-19 Research Library

UNDER DEVELOPMENT UNICEF Innocenti's curated library of COVID-19 + Children research

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Journal article

The impact of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health: the lived experience of adolescents with obesity and their caregivers

AUTHOR(S)
Giada Pietrabissa; Clarissa Volpi; Michela Bottacchi (et al.)

Published: March 2021 Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Adolescence is a complex developmental phase, made more complex by obesity and the social isolation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The literature related to the impact of social isolation on obesity self-management in adolescents is scant and inconsistent. This paper describes the phenomenon from the perspectives of a sample of adolescents with obesity enrolled in an inpatients’ multidisciplinary rehabilitation program for weight-loss and their caregivers, and its impact on different life domains. Individual semi-structured ad hoc interviews were conducted with 10 adolescent-caregiver dyads, and narratives were qualitatively investigated using an interpretative phenomenology approach to data.

Journal article

BMI status and associations between affect, physical activity and anxiety among U.S. children during COVID‐19

AUTHOR(S)
Jasmin M. Alves; Alexandra G. Yunker; Alexis DeFendis (et al.)

Published: March 2021 Journal: Pediatric Obesity

There is concern regarding how the COVID‐19 pandemic may impact the psychological and physical health of children, but to date, studies on mental health during the pandemic in children are limited. Furthermore, unprecedented lifestyle stressors associated with the pandemic may aggravate the childhood obesity epidemic, but the role of BMI on child activity levels and psychological outcomes during COVID‐19 is unknown. This study investigated how emotional responses (positive/negative affect), physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviours related to anxiety among U.S. children with healthy weight and overweight/obesity during the pandemic.

Evidence Synthesis and other Reviews

A community perspective of COVID-19 and obesity in children: causes and consequences

AUTHOR(S)
Maido Tsenoli; Jane Elizabeth Moverley Smith; Moien AB Khan

Published: March 2021 Journal: Obesity Medicine

The pandemic of childhood obesity that has been increasing over the last decade has collided with the current pandemic of COVID-19. Enforced behavioural changes have resulted in a myriad of problems for children particularly in weight management. Restricted activity is the most obvious but many other aspects of life have exacerbated biological, psychosocial, and behavioral factors identified as risks for childhood obesity. Significant effort is required to turn around the prevailing tide of weight gain necessitating changes in personal and family behavior and diet, as well as high-level governmental and educational policy.

Evidence Synthesis and other Reviews

Obesity in children and adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic

AUTHOR(S)
Androniki Stavridou; Evangelia Kapsali; Eleni Panagouli (et al.)

Published: February 2021 Journal: Children

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to special circumstances and changes to everyday life due to the worldwide measures that were imposed such as lockdowns. This review aims to evaluate obesity in children, adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A literature search was conducted to evaluate pertinent studies up to 10 November 2020. A total of 15 articles were eligible; 9 identified 17,028,111 children, adolescents and young adults from 5–25 years old, 5 pertained to studies with an age admixture (n = 20,521) and one study included parents with children 5–18 years old (n = 584). During the COVID-19 era, children, adolescents and young adults gained weight. Changes in dietary behaviors, increased food intake and unhealthy food choices including potatoes, meat and sugary drinks were noted during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Food insecurity associated with financial reasons represents another concern.

Cite this research | No. of pages: 16 | Language: English | Topics: Health, Nutrition | Tags: adolescent psychology, child nutrition, COVID-19 response, lockdown, obesity, physical activity

Journal article

Physical activity behaviour and screen time in Dutch children during the COVID‐19 pandemic: pre‐, during‐ and post‐school closures

AUTHOR(S)
Gabrielle ten Velde; Judith Lubrecht; Lisanne Arayess (et al.)

Published: February 2021 Journal: Pediatric Obesity

Measures during the COVID‐19 pandemic, including the closure of schools and sports facilities, may have lasting impact on the physical activity (PA) of children that persists for a long time.This study aims to investigate the effect of COVID‐19 measures on screen time and PA in Dutch children pre‐, during‐ and post‐school closures.

Evidence Synthesis and other Reviews

Harnessing technological solutions for childhood obesity prevention and treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of current applications

AUTHOR(S)
Lauren A. Fowler; Anne Claire Grammer; Amanda E. Staiano (et al.)

Published: February 2021 Journal: International Journal of Obesity

Technology holds promise for delivery of accessible, individualized, and destigmatized obesity prevention and treatment to youth. This review examined the efficacy of recent technology-based interventions on weight outcomes.

Journal article

Psychological distress and internet-related behaviors between schoolchildren with and without overweight during the COVID-19 outbreak

AUTHOR(S)
Chao-Ying Chen; I-Hua Chen; Kerry S. O’Brien

Published: January 2021 Journal: International Journal of Obesity

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and its resulting social policy changes may result in psychological distress among schoolchildren with overweight. This study thus aimed to (1) compare psychological distress (including fear of COVID-19 infection, stress, anxiety, and depression), perceived weight stigma, and problematic internet-related behaviors between schoolchildren with and without overweight; (2) assess whether perceived weight stigma and problematic internet-related behaviors explained psychological distress.

Commentaries and Think Pieces

A hidden side of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: the double burden of undernutrition and overnutrition

AUTHOR(S)
Boutaina Zemrani; Mario Gehri; Eric Masserey (et al.)

Published: January 2021 Journal: International Journal for Equity in Health volume

The COVID-19 pandemic has deteriorated key determinants of health and caused major upheavals around the world. Children, although less directly affected by the virus, are paying a heavy price through the indirect effects of the crisis, including poor diet, mental health impact, social isolation, addiction to screens and lack of schooling and health care, particularly among vulnerable groups. This paper is aimed at discussing the potential impact of this pandemic on children’s nutrition and lifestyle. Preliminary data from the literature and from our survey show significant disruptions in nutrition and lifestyle habits of children. While undernutrition is expected to worsen in poor countries, obesity rates could increase in middle- and high-income countries especially among precarious groups widening the gap in health and social inequalities. The real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children extends well beyond that of a viral infection. This crisis has public health implications that could have life-long consequences on children. It requires effective and targeted measures mainly for vulnerable children and households to guarantee children’s basic rights for optimal nutrition, health and development.

Research brief

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on activity patterns and weight status among youths in China: the COVID-19 impact on lifestyle change survey (COINLICS)

AUTHOR(S)
Peng Jia; Lei Zhang; Wanqi Yu (et al.)

Published: December 2020 Journal: International Journal of Obesity

Lockdown measures including school closures due to COVID-19 may affect youths’ activity patterns and obesity status. This will be for the first time examined in China in this study on the basis of a large national sample from the COVID-19 Impact on Lifestyle Change Survey (COINLICS). Through an online questionnaire, 10,082 participants from high schools, colleges, and graduate schools, aged 19.8 ± 2.3 years, voluntarily reported their lifestyles and weight status before (January 2020) and after lockdown (April–May 2020).

Journal article

Eating to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and body weight change in young adults

AUTHOR(S)
Tyler B. Mason; Jessica Barrington-Trimis; Adam M. Leventhal

Published: December 2020 Journal: Journal of Adolescent Health

Life disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are particularly salient for young adults. Some young adults may engage in unhealthy eating practices to cope with social distancing and isolation during the pandemic, which could increase incidental weight gain. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of eating to cope with the pandemic with body weight change in young adults before versus after spread of COVID-19.

Journal article

COVID-19: a one-way ticket to a global childhood obesity crisis?

AUTHOR(S)
Sarah Cuschieri; Stephan Grech

Published: November 2020 Journal: Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders

Obesity is a global epidemic based on three major pillars of (i) genetic (ii) behavioural and (iii) environmental determinants. The latter two pillars have been challenged during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic across all population age groups including children. The closure of schools resulted in decreased organised physical activity, increase in sedentary lifestyle and screen time with the possibility of stress-induced indulgence in high calorie dense and sugary foods, resulting in higher susceptibility to weight gain. The uncertainty faced by many Northern Hemisphere governments as the new scholastic year looms closer whether to open schools again or not further enhances the stress on the children and their family.

Cite this research | No. of pages: 4 | Language: English | Topics: Health, Nutrition | Tags: child nutrition, school attendance, COVID-19 response, lockdown, obesity

Journal article

COVID‐19 related anxiety in children and adolescents with severe obesity: a mixed‐methods study

AUTHOR(S)
Ozair Abawi; Mila S. Welling; Emma van den Eynde (et al.)

Published: September 2020 Journal: Clinical Obesity

Recent studies report negative mental health effects of the COVID-19 related lock-down measures in general paediatric cohorts. Since obesity is a risk factor for COVID-19 in adults, children (including adolescents) with obesity might perceive themselves to be vulnerable. Using a combined quantitative and qualitative approach, we explored COVID-19 related anxiety in paediatric patients with severe obesity in the Netherlands using semi-structured telephone interviews and the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) questionnaire, which had also been completed by the study population at baseline in the year prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Journal article

COVID-19 related anxiety in children and adolescents with severe obesity: a mixed-methods study

AUTHOR(S)
Ozair Abawi; Mila S. Welling; Emma van den Eynde (et al.)

Published: September 2020 Journal: Clinical Obesity

Recent studies report negative mental health effects of the COVID-19 related lockdown measures in general paediatric cohorts. Since obesity is a risk factor for COVID-19 in adults, children (including adolescents) with obesity might perceive themselves to be vulnerable. Using a combined quantitative and qualitative approach, this study explored COVID-19 related anxiety in paediatric patients with severe obesity in the Netherlands using semi-structured telephone interviews and the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) questionnaire, which had also been completed by the study population at baseline in the year prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Journal article

Vulnerability and weaknesses of eating habits of overweight school children as an entry risk for COVID-19

AUTHOR(S)
Ammal M. Metwally; Walaa S. Mahmoud; Fatma A. Shaaban (et al.)

Published: August 2020 Journal: Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences

In developing countries, overweight among children becomes an alarming problem and a health concern. Obesity is a factor in disease severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) having the greatest impact on patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight in some of the Egyptian governmental primary school children, its nutritional and socioeconomic determinants. Special focus was directed to identify the current dietary practices including risky nutritional habits of overweight children as a weak point leading to increasing their vulnerability to catching COVID-19 infection.

Research brief

Overweight and obesity - in the context of COVID-19

Institution: World Food Programme
Published: August 2020

Following the release of the WFP COVID-19 Medium-term programme framework (MTPF), the Nutrition Division has developed a number of guidance tools and documents related to the MTPF pillars of work. The Overweight and obesity in the context of COVID-19 technical note and guidance aims to support WFP's work in the area of promoting healthy and nutritious diets, and preventing all forms of malnutrition. Note that this is part of the forthcoming guidelines on overweight and obesity prevention, highlighting the key role that WFP can play across the various systems – food, health, social protection and education systems.

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