The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity and Lifestyle—A Report from Italy
During the COVID-19 lockdown, especially in the first wave of pandemic (March 2020), sedentary lifestyle and calorie intake increase in children became considerably more prevalent. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate changes in children’s weights and nutritional habits during the COVID-19 p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Pediatric Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7503/14/4/49 |
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| author | Stefano Palermi Marco Vecchiato Sonia Pennella Anna Marasca Alessandro Spinelli Mariarosaria De Luca Lorena De Martino Fredrick Fernando Felice Sirico Alessandro Biffi |
| author_facet | Stefano Palermi Marco Vecchiato Sonia Pennella Anna Marasca Alessandro Spinelli Mariarosaria De Luca Lorena De Martino Fredrick Fernando Felice Sirico Alessandro Biffi |
| author_sort | Stefano Palermi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During the COVID-19 lockdown, especially in the first wave of pandemic (March 2020), sedentary lifestyle and calorie intake increase in children became considerably more prevalent. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate changes in children’s weights and nutritional habits during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. In this cross-sectional observational study, for 3 years, as part of the corporate wellness program (2019–2021) in Emilia Romagna region of Italy, anthropometric data of Ferrari car company employers’ children were collected, analyzed, and compared. Moreover, at the visit of November 2020, performed after the first wave of the pandemic with the most rigorous lockdown rules in Italy, a questionnaire on nutritional and lifestyle habits was administered. We evaluated 307 children (163 M, 10.1 ± 2.3 mean aged in 2019). A significant increase in BMI percentile in 2020 (65.2) compared to 2019 (49.2) was observed; it was confirmed, albeit slightly decreased, in 2021 (64.5). About one-third of participants reported an increase in consumption of fatty condiments and more than half report an increase in consumption of junk food. Levels of physical activity were still high during the COVID-19 lockdown, while sleeping time was significantly reduced. Our findings alert us to the importance of carefully monitoring eating behaviors in young to avoid the adoption of unhealthy food habits and prevent childhood obesity, especially during the period of COVID-19 lockdown. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:59:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1c32b8b5ff3c4f7ea34c94f31b693830 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2036-7503 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:59:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pediatric Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-1c32b8b5ff3c4f7ea34c94f31b6938302023-11-24T17:15:01ZengMDPI AGPediatric Reports2036-75032022-09-0114441041810.3390/pediatric14040049The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity and Lifestyle—A Report from ItalyStefano Palermi0Marco Vecchiato1Sonia Pennella2Anna Marasca3Alessandro Spinelli4Mariarosaria De Luca5Lorena De Martino6Fredrick Fernando7Felice Sirico8Alessandro Biffi9Public Health Department, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, ItalySport and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Padova, 35128 Padova, ItalyMed-Ex Medicine & Exercise, Via Vittorio Veneto 108, 00187 Rome, ItalyMed-Ex Medicine & Exercise, Via Vittorio Veneto 108, 00187 Rome, ItalyPublic Health Department, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, 80131 Naples, ItalyMed-Ex Medicine & Exercise, Via Vittorio Veneto 108, 00187 Rome, ItalyMed-Ex Medicine & Exercise, Via Vittorio Veneto 108, 00187 Rome, ItalyPublic Health Department, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, ItalyMed-Ex Medicine & Exercise, Via Vittorio Veneto 108, 00187 Rome, ItalyDuring the COVID-19 lockdown, especially in the first wave of pandemic (March 2020), sedentary lifestyle and calorie intake increase in children became considerably more prevalent. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate changes in children’s weights and nutritional habits during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. In this cross-sectional observational study, for 3 years, as part of the corporate wellness program (2019–2021) in Emilia Romagna region of Italy, anthropometric data of Ferrari car company employers’ children were collected, analyzed, and compared. Moreover, at the visit of November 2020, performed after the first wave of the pandemic with the most rigorous lockdown rules in Italy, a questionnaire on nutritional and lifestyle habits was administered. We evaluated 307 children (163 M, 10.1 ± 2.3 mean aged in 2019). A significant increase in BMI percentile in 2020 (65.2) compared to 2019 (49.2) was observed; it was confirmed, albeit slightly decreased, in 2021 (64.5). About one-third of participants reported an increase in consumption of fatty condiments and more than half report an increase in consumption of junk food. Levels of physical activity were still high during the COVID-19 lockdown, while sleeping time was significantly reduced. Our findings alert us to the importance of carefully monitoring eating behaviors in young to avoid the adoption of unhealthy food habits and prevent childhood obesity, especially during the period of COVID-19 lockdown.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7503/14/4/49COVID-19 lockdownchildhood obesityeating habits |
| spellingShingle | Stefano Palermi Marco Vecchiato Sonia Pennella Anna Marasca Alessandro Spinelli Mariarosaria De Luca Lorena De Martino Fredrick Fernando Felice Sirico Alessandro Biffi The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity and Lifestyle—A Report from Italy Pediatric Reports COVID-19 lockdown childhood obesity eating habits |
| title | The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity and Lifestyle—A Report from Italy |
| title_full | The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity and Lifestyle—A Report from Italy |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity and Lifestyle—A Report from Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity and Lifestyle—A Report from Italy |
| title_short | The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity and Lifestyle—A Report from Italy |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on childhood obesity and lifestyle a report from italy |
| topic | COVID-19 lockdown childhood obesity eating habits |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7503/14/4/49 |
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