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Longitudinal changes in juvenile and adolescent body mass indices before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand.
Floyd, Bruce; Battles, Heather T; White, Sophie; Loch, Carolina; McFarlane, Gina; Guatelli-Steinberg, Debbie; Mahoney, Patrick.
  • Floyd B; School of Social Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
  • Battles HT; School of Social Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
  • White S; Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
  • Loch C; Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
  • McFarlane G; School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
  • Guatelli-Steinberg D; Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
  • Mahoney P; School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
Am J Hum Biol ; 35(5): e23861, 2023 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2172362
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

This study uses longitudinal data from school children in Dunedin, New Zealand, to evaluate impacts of COVID-19 lockdown measures on changes in body mass (BMI, kg/m2 ). Impacts are assessed using two non-mutually exclusive hypotheses. The "structured days" hypothesis holds that children tend to alter sleep patterns, reduce activity and increase snacking when not in structured environments. The bidirectional hypothesis proposes that over-weight or obese children are predisposed to further gains in unstructured settings.

METHODS:

Juveniles and adolescents (n = 95, 60% female) were recruited from Dunedin schools. Repeated measures analyses assessed variation in intra-individual change in BMI during four periods P1 (before summer break), P2 (during summer break), P3 (during the COVID-19 lockdown), and P4 (after the lockdown ended). The model also examined if these changes were influenced by participants' sex or body size early in the first period assessed using log-transformed BMI, log-transformed weight, height, or lower leg length.

RESULTS:

Repeated measures analyses of per month gains in BMI (kg/m2 ) during the four periods revealed consistent period (p ≤ .001), period by sex (p ≤ .010), and period by body size (p ≤ .001) interactions across all four body size proxies. Both sexes experienced the greatest gains during the lockdown (P3), but differed in response to their summer break (P2).

CONCLUSION:

Results are mostly consistent with the "structured days" hypothesis, but challenge the bidirectional hypothesis as defined. Further research better characterizing risks of gains in adiposity are needed.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pediatric Obesity / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Adolescent / Child / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Oceania Language: English Journal: Am J Hum Biol Journal subject: Biology Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ajhb.23861

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pediatric Obesity / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Adolescent / Child / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Oceania Language: English Journal: Am J Hum Biol Journal subject: Biology Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ajhb.23861