Dramatic Increase of Body Weight during Covid-19 Breakdown: Data from the Austrian Prevention Project Eddy Kids 2018/19 and Eddy Kids 2019/20

Review Article

Austin J Nutri Food Sci. 2021; 9(1): 1149.

Dramatic Increase of Body Weight during Covid-19 Breakdown: Data from the Austrian Prevention Project Eddy Kids 2018/19 and Eddy Kids 2019/20

Kurt Widhalm*, Hanna Rosenauer, Alina Gansterer and Julia Matjazic

Austrian Academic Institute for Clinical Nutrition and Medical University of Vienna, Austria

*Corresponding author: Kurt Widhalm, Austrian Academic Institute for Clinical Nutrition and Medical University of Vienna, Austria

Received: January 19, 2021; Accepted: February 01, 2021; Published: February 08, 2021

Abstract

Introduction: Overweight and obesity among adults and children has increased dramatically worldwide in the last few decades. Overweight children usually remain overweight in adulthood and develop lots of comorbidities. It is therefore important to take preventive measures as early as possible to counteract this trend.

Objective: To find out what effect the temporary school closure in Austria due to COVID-19 had on the school children in terms of body weight.

Methods: Anthropometric parameters (bodyweight, body fat percentage and height) were measured twice in all students (before and after a 6-month intervention period). The intervention group received a one-hour nutrition lesson and two one-hour sports lessons per week. The control group was only tested and received no intervention.

Subjects: The study group consisted of a control and an intervention group with a total of 115 school children.

Results: The intervention and the control group gained about +4.5 kg in 2019/20, whereas the average increase in body weight was +2.85 kg (intervention group) and +2.61 kg (control group) the year before (2018/19).

Conclusion: The lockdown in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic has a big impact on body weight. Special online trainings should be implemented for school children, which should also involve the families.

Introduction

Lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet in children can lead to the development of overweight and obesity. In the long term, overweight children have an increased risk of various diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus type 2, joint and cardiovascular diseases [1].

Research has also shown that minority groups such as Black, Latinx and Native Americans experience inequalities in access to healthy and affordable food due to ethnic and racial differences. This often results in obesity and associated chronic diseases and in turn leads to a poor outcome from COVID-19 [2].

Citation: Widhalm K, Rosenauer H, Gansterer A and Matjazic J. Dramatic Increase of Body Weight during Covid-19 Breakdown: Data from the Austrian Prevention Project Eddy Kids 2018/19 and Eddy Kids 2019/20. Austin J Nutri Food Sci. 2021; 9(1): 1149.