Post COVID shift in BMI with special reference to dietary and behavioural pattern among adolescents: a school based study

Dipika M.C.; Sanjay K. Masaraddi; Elizabeth K. E.; Relve P. Verghese; Vijayakumar B.

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20234132

Authors

Dipika M.C. Department of Paediatrics, Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, Tamil Nadu, India
Sanjay K. Masaraddi Department of Paediatrics, Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, Tamil Nadu, India
Elizabeth K. E. Department of Paediatrics, Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, Tamil Nadu, India
Relve P. Verghese Department of Paediatrics, Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, Tamil Nadu, India
Vijayakumar B. Department of Paediatrics, Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20234132

Keywords:

Habit, Obesity, Overweight, Post covid-19

Abstract

Background: Covid-19 was a life altering pandemic leading to children getting restricted indoors with online education. This led to a change in dietary and socio-behavioral pattern. Aim were to assess change in post-Covid BMI in comparison to pre-Covid BMI among adolescents and to determine post-Covid dietary and sleeping habits, screen time, physical activity, psycho-behavioral pattern using a structured questionnaire.

Methods: This study was conducted among 108 adolescent and mother dyads studying in a higher secondary school, during November 2022 to March 2023 using a pre-structured questionnaire. Anthropometry measurements were taken and compared with pre-Covid data available in the medical records. Using SPSS 21, analysis was done and association determined using Chi square test (p<0.05 significant).

Results: M:F ratio was 1:0.9. Among dietary pattern compared to pre-Covid 54.6% had increase quantity of food intake, of which 83.05% had increase consumption of JUNCS. 68.5% reported disturbances in sleep pattern. Increase in screen time for non-academic is 74% and 51.9% for academic purposes. 49% preferred leisure activity, 25% preferred moderate and 25.9% preferred vigorous physical activity. 60.1% experienced signs of anxiety. On comparison of pre and post-Covid BMI showed that there was an increase in overweight from 22.2% to 37.9% and obesity from 2.8% to 6.5% and was statistically significant.

Conclusions: There were significant changes in the lifestyle pattern with a double fold increase in overweight and obesity in the post-Covid assessment. This is an eyeopener regarding future burden of non-communicable disease and a warning to impart healthy lifestyle.

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