COVID-19 and health in children and adolescents in the US: A narrative systematic review.

In the United States, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated nationwide closures of kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) schools. Stay-at-home orders and social distancing mandates were also implemented to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the existing literature on how COVID-19 impacted K-12 students' eating patterns, physical activity, and sleep in the United States. Utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a literature search was conducted between October and December 2021. Inclusion criteria were studies focused on COVID-19 and eating patterns, physical activity, and sleep in students enrolled in K-12 schools since March 2020. International studies were excluded. Mixed findings were observed for eating patterns whereby the consumption of unhealthful savory and sweet items and healthful snacks (e.g., fruit and vegetables) increased. Reductions in physical activity and disrupted sleep routines were also observed. Heterogeneity in methodological procedures may limit the generalizability of these findings. In the United States, preliminary data suggest that select health-promoting behaviors were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that prolonged unhealthful eating patterns, physical inactivity, and poor sleep contribute to chronic disease risk, initiatives that increase health-promoting behaviors are warranted.

The feasibility and preliminary efficacy of early time-restricted eating on diet quality in college students: A randomized study.

Meal timing is an important consideration when assessing health. The primary outcome of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of early time-restricted eating (eTRE) on diet quality in a sample of college students attending a large southwestern university. Cardiometabolic indices and anthropometric measures were also obtained. The study was planned as an eight-week intervention; however, COVID-19 necessitated laboratory closures that disrupted data collection at week eight. Hence, only data obtained at week zero (baseline) and week four were viable for analysis and are presented herein. Twenty-five healthy participants were randomized to the intervention group (eTRE) which consisted of a daily 6-hour eating window or the control group (CON) which consisted of a daily 16-hour eating window. Each week, participants were permitted one day off from their respective study protocol. Seventeen participants completed all aspects of the study, and diet quality data were obtained from one additional participant (n = 18). Preliminary findings indicate that the 6-hour eTRE protocol may be beneficial for weight reduction and for reducing energy-dense foods typically consumed during the evening hours or later at night. Future research should accommodate individual preferences with regard to the initiation time of the eating window while also providing evidence-based nutrition recommendations to improve diet quality.

Early time-restricted eating may favorably impact cognitive acuity in university students: a randomized pilot study.

Cognitive acuity is important for academic success. The preliminary efficacy of early time-restricted eating (eTRE) on cognitive acuity was examined in a sample of university students attending a large southwestern university. It was hypothesized that adherence to eTRE would result in improved cognitive acuity as assessed by the Trail Making Tests (i.e., TMT-A and TMT-B) and the Stroop Color and Word Test. Participants were randomized to an intervention group (eTRE) with a daily 6-hour eating window or a control group (CON) with a daily 16-hour eating window; 24 participants initiated the study (13 eTRE and 11 CON). Blood ketones (i.e., ß-hydroxybutyrate [BHB]) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were also assessed. The 8-week intervention was forestalled by COVID-19 laboratory closures beginning in March 2020, and only data obtained at week 0 (baseline) and week 4 were viable for statistical analyses. Study attrition was high (50% for eTRE and 23% for CON). At week 4, there was a 27% and 6% decrease in TMT-B response time for the eTRE and CON groups, respectively (P = .02). TMT-B response time was inversely correlated to plasma BHB among participants (r = -0.633; P = .008). Considering the inverse relationship between TMT-B response time and plasma BHB, these preliminary data suggest that eTRE may improve some aspects of cognitive acuity in this population. Future investigations are needed to confirm these findings and should accommodate individual preferences regarding the initiation time of the eating window while also considering the impact on social influences and exercise engagement.