Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on elementary schoolers' physical activity, sleep, screen time and diet: A quasi-experimental interrupted time series study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

COVID-19 school closures pose a threat to children's wellbeing, but no COVID-19-related studies have assessed children's behaviours over multiple years .

Objective

To examine children's obesogenic behaviours during spring and summer of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous data collected from the same children during the same calendar period in the 2 years prior.

Methods

Physical activity and sleep data were collected via Fitbit Charge-2 in 231 children (7-12 years) over 6 weeks during spring and summer over 3 years. Parents reported their child's screen time and dietary intake via a survey on 2-3 random days/week.

Results

Children's behaviours worsened at a greater rate following the pandemic onset compared to pre-pandemic trends. During pandem

SUBMITTER: Burkart S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8420216 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature