ABSTRACT
SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Given how dramatically the pandemic has affected food systems, the economy, and the daily lives of children over the past 2 years, the potential impact of the pandemic on childhood obesity requires careful investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the change in body mass index z-score in 3-year-old children and the inducing factors during the pandemic period. METHODS: The body mass index z-scores of all children participating in the study were calculated at the beginning of the pandemic (3-year-old body mass index z-score) and in its second year (5-year-old body mass index z-score). RESULTS: This study, conducted during the 2-year pandemic period, found a strong association between the body mass index z-scores of children aged 3 and 5 years. The mean body mass index z-score increased between these time points for both boys and girls (p=0.013; p=0.034). In two different linear regression models created for the change in body mass index z score, gestational weight gain was found to be related. The regression coefficients (95% confidence intervals) and corresponding p-values were 0.580 (0.217-0.944) and p=0.002 for model 1, whereas they were 0.585 (0.217-0.961) and p=0.002 for model 2. CONCLUSION: This study showed an increase in body mass index z-scores in early childhood period during the COVID-19 pandemic. To prevent this increase, new strategies should be developed by considering the changes brought by the pandemic period.
ABSTRACT
Introducción. En los estudios realizados se encontró que la duración de la lactancia tiene un efecto reductor sobre las infecciones frecuentes en los niños durante el período de lactancia. Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue abordar la asociación entre la duración de la lactancia y las enfermedades infecciosas frecuentes en los niños hasta los 5 años de edad para demostrar los efectos protectores de la leche materna. Población y métodos. Se incluyeron 411 lactantes nacidos en Rize, Turquía, entre enero de 2011 y diciembre de 2011. Este estudio de cohorte, prospectivo duró cinco años; en este período, se realizaron 11 entrevistas con cada madre de los lactantes. Se dividió a los lactantes en dos grupos: amamantados durante más y menos de 12 meses, y se estudió la asociación entre la lactancia y las infecciones, como otitis media aguda, gastroenteritis aguda, infección respiratoria aguda e infección urinaria. Resultados. De los 411 nacimientos, se incluyeron 270 lactantes, 193 (71,5%) recibieron lactancia durante más de 12 meses y 77 (28,5%), durante menos de 12 meses. Los lactantes del primer grupo tuvieron menos casos de otitis media aguda y gastroenteritis aguda (n = 77; 28,52%) en comparación con los lactantes amamantados durante menos de 12 meses en el período de cinco años (p < 0,05). Conclusiones. Con este estudio se detectó que la lactancia durante más de 12 meses reduce significativamente las infecciones frecuentes durante la niñez, como la otitis media y la gastroenteritis durante los primeros cinco años de vida.
Introduction.The studies conducted revealed that breastfeeding duration has a reducing effect on common infectious diseases in the children during breastfeeding period. Objective. The aim of the present study was to address the association between breastfeeding duration and common infectious diseases in the children until 5 years of age to show long-term protective effects of the breast milk. Material and methods. The study included 411 infants who were born in Rize (Turkey) between January 2011 and December 2011. The present prospective-cohort study lasted for 5 years and 11 interviews were conducted with each mother of the infants during this period. The infants were divided into two groups as those who were breastfed more and less than 12 months and the association between breastfeeding and infections such as acute otitis media, acute gastroenteritis, acute respiratory tract infections and acute urinary system infections was investigated. Results. Of 270 infants 193 (71.5%) were breastfed longer than 12 months and 77 (28.5%) were breastfed less than 12 months. Infants in the first group had less acute otitis media and acute gastroenteritis (n= 77, 28.52%) when compared with the infants breastfed less than 12 months during 5-year period (p <0.05). Conclusion. The present study detected that breastfeeding duration longer than 12 months significantly reduces the common childhood infections such as otitis media and gastroenteritis during the first 5 years of life.