Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on elementary schoolers' physical activity, sleep, screen time and diet: A quasi‐experimental interrupted time series study. Issue 1 (18th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burkart, Sarah; Parker, Hannah; Weaver, R. Glenn; Beets, Michael W.; Jones, Alexis; Adams, Elizabeth L.; Chaput, Jean‐Philippe; Armstrong, Bridget
• Is Part Of: Pediatric obesity. Volume 17:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-08-18
• Subjects: accelerometry -- children -- diet -- physical activity -- screen time -- sleep; Obesity in children -- Periodicals; Obesity in adolescence -- Periodicals; Obesity -- Periodicals; Overweight children -- Periodicals; 618.92398
• DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12846
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-7174

Abstract

Summary: Background: COVID‐19 school closures pose a threat to children's wellbeing, but no COVID‐19‐related studies have assessed children's behaviours over multiple years . Objective: To examine children's obesogenic behaviours during spring and summer of the COVID‐19 pandemic compared to previous data collected from the same children during the same calendar period in the 2 years prior. Methods: Physical activity and sleep data were collected via Fitbit Charge‐2 in 231 children (7–12 years) over 6 weeks during spring and summer over 3 years. Parents reported their child's screen time and dietary intake via a survey on 2–3 random days/week. Results: Children's behaviours worsened at a greater rate following the pandemic onset compared to pre‐pandemic trends. During pandemic spring, sedentary behaviour increased (+79 min; 95% CI = 60.6, 97.1) and MVPA decreased (−10 min, 95% CI = −18.2, −1.1) compared to change in previous springs (2018–2019). Sleep timing shifted later (+124 min; 95% CI = 112.9, 135.5). Screen time (+97 min, 95% CI = 79.0, 115.4) and dietary intake increased (healthy: +0.3 foods, 95% CI = 0.2, 0.5; unhealthy: +1.2 foods, 95% CI = 1.0, 1.5). Similar patterns were observed during summer. Conclusions: Compared to pre‐pandemic measures, children's PA, sedentary behaviour, sleep, screen time, and diet were adversely altered during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This may ultimately exacerbate childhood obesity.