Covid19 social distancing effect on body fat and insulin resistance in teens with overweight/obesity

ABSTRACT

Background: Teens gain more weight in summer than in school, with greatest gains among teens with overweight/obesity (OWOB). Virtual learning for COVID19 social distancing may increase this risk. This study assesses change in total body fat% (TBF%) and insulin resistance (IR) during COVID19 in teens with OWOB. Methods: Teens (N = 14, Mage = 15.3, 57% male, 71% black) with OWOB who completed at least 1 fasting blood draw and DXA pre-COVID19 and were in virtual learning returned to complete another fasting blood draw and DXA (measuring TBF%). HOMA-IR was calculated via fasting glucose and insulin. Change scores were calculated for 1) pre-and during-COVID19 TBF% and 2) 2 pre-COVID19 TBF% scores. Two norm TBF% change scores were calculated from NHANES population-based data matched for age, sex, BMI% and race based on time between 1) pre-and during-COVID19 DXAs, and 2) 2 pre-COVID19 DXAs. HOMA-IR change scores were calculated for 1) pre-and during-COVID19 and 2) 2 pre-COVID19 scores. Norm HOMA-IR change was calculated based on time between blood draws, age and BMI%. Paired t-tests compared 1) TBF% change pre-to during-COVID19 with TBF% norm change and 2) TBF% change pre-to during-COVID19 with change in 2 pre-COVID19 TBF% scores. ANCOVAs compared 1) HOMA-IR change pre-to during-COVID19 with HOMA-IR change in 2 pre-COVID19 visits controlling for BMIz and difference in time between visits and 2) HOMA-IR change from pre-to during-COVID19 with norm change in HOMA-IR controlling for sex/race. Results: TBF% change between 2 pre-COVID19 DXAs (M = .2%) and norm change (M = -.2%) were similar, but TBF% increased by ~6% more from pre-to during-COVID19 (M = 6.45%) than norm change (M = .5%,p < .01). HOMA-IR increased by ~2.5 units more from pre-to during-COVID19 (M = 3.4) than pre-COVID19 blood draws (M = 0.8;p = .03) and by ~3.5 units more than norm change (M = -.03;p = 0.01). Conclusions: TBF% and IR increased exponentially during COVID19 in teens with OWOB compared to before COVID19 and norm changes, leaving an enduring effect on health.