Changes in body weight and health behaviors of overweight children during the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors

  • Gabriel Gustavo Bergmann Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Departamento de Educação Física, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6275-0232
  • Gabriel Barros da Cunha Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Departamento de Educação Física, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6074-9150
  • Gicele de Oliveira Karini da Cunha Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Departamento de Educação Física, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0493-0195
  • Julie Hellen de Barros Cruz Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Departamento de Educação Física, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6063-234X
  • Lorena Rodrigues Silva Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Departamento de Educação Física, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6809-9308
  • Gustavo Dias Ferreira Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Departamento de Educação Física, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5969-7250
  • Eraldo dos Santos Pinheiro Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Departamento de Educação Física, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5749-1512

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.25e0153

Keywords:

Behavior change, Obesity, Children, Health

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the perception of parents of overweight children about the effects of the period of social distancing due to COVID-19 on body weight (BW), level of physical activity (PA), time spent in sedentary behavior (SB) and their children's eating habits and sleep. Parents of 47 overweight children (11.1 ± 1.33 years) were interviewed by telephone. Questions about the perception regarding BW and the four behaviors related to the health of their children during the period of social distancing were asked. The increase in BW was perceived by 61.7% of children and for almost all of them (93.6%) reductions in PA levels were reported, with 72.4% reducing participation in vigorous PA. An increase in time using smartphones, tablets, and microcomputers was observed in 65.9% of children. Favorable changes were noted in relation to quality (34.1%) and daily sleep time (51.1%). Favorable changes in the consumption of fruits (36.2%) and soft drinks (21.2%) and unfavorable changes in the consumption of vegetables (19.1%) and sweets and snacks (26.2%) were also reported. Four and a half months after the start of the social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, overweight children increased the BW and changed the levels of PA and SB in an unfavorable way according to their parents. On the other hand, they started sleeping more and with higher quality and consuming more fruits and less soft drinks.

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Author Biography

Gabriel Gustavo Bergmann, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Departamento de Educação Física, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.

Graduado em Educação Física pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (2003), mestre (2006) e doutor (2009) em Ciências do Movimento Humano pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Professor Adjunto do curso de Licenciatura em Educação Física da Universidade Federal do Pampa. Professor do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Coordenador do Grupo de Pesquisa em Atividade Física e Saúde na Infância e Adolescência (GPAFSIA). Possui experiência na área de Pesquisa em Atividade Física, Aptidão Física e Saúde, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: atividade física, aptidão física, estilo de vida e saúde de crianças e adolescentes.

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Published

2020-12-31

How to Cite

1.
Bergmann GG, Cunha GB da, Cunha G de OK da, Cruz JH de B, Silva LR, Ferreira GD, et al. Changes in body weight and health behaviors of overweight children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rev. Bras. Ativ. Fís. Saúde [Internet]. 2020 Dec. 31 [cited 2024 Jul. 3];25:1-7. Available from: https://rbafs.org.br/RBAFS/article/view/14438

Issue

Vol. 25 (2020)

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2020 Gabriel Gustavo Bergmann, Gabriel Barros da Cunha, Gicele de Oliveira Karini da Cunha, Julie Hellen de Barros Cruz, Lorena Rodrigues Silva, Gustavo Dias Ferreira, Eraldo dos Santos Pinheiro

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