Pediatric obesity during COVID-19: the role of neighborhood social vulnerability and collective efficacy.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Childhood obesity increased in the first year of COVID-19 with significant disparities across race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Social distancing led to fewer physical activity opportunities but increased screen time and high-calorie food consumption, all co-determined by neighborhood environments. This study aimed to test the moderation effects of neighborhood socioeconomic and built environments on obesity change during COVID-19.

Methods

Using electronic health records from a large pediatric primary care network in 2018-2022, we cross-sectionally examined 163,042 well visits of 2-17-year-olds living in Philadelphia County in order to examine (1) the pandemic's effect on obesity prevalence and (2) moderation by census-tract-level neighborhood socioecon

SUBMITTER: Min J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11017973 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature