COVID‐19‐related lockdowns and changes in overweight and obesity, movement behaviours, diet quality, and health‐related quality of life among regional Australian primary school children: A repeat cross‐sectional study
Authors' conclusion
Children's health-related behaviours and outcomes seemed not to have returned to pre-pandemic levels 6 to 11 months after the final lockdowns lifted for their communities. Continued monitoring and interventions targeting the drivers of childhood obesity are urgently needed.
Study context
- Population
- Grade 2, 4 and 6 primary school children in north-east Victoria, Australia; Grade 4 and 6 students self-reported movement behaviours, diet quality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL)
- Participants
- 1,816 vs 3,889
- Exposure
- 2022 vs 2019
- 2022n = 1,816
- 2019n = 3,889reference
- Outcome
- Overweight and obesity prevalence, movement behaviours, diet quality and HRQoL
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2022 vs 2019
- Less likely to meet guidelines for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, recreational screen time and vegetable consumption in 2022
- Higher intakes of takeaway food, energy-dense nutrient-poor snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages in 2022
- Lower HRQoL in 2022
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- School participation, 2019 vs 2022
- 56% vs 34%
- Student participation, 2019 vs 2022
- 87% vs 75%
Original publication
COVID‐19‐related lockdowns and changes in overweight and obesity, movement behaviours, diet quality, and health‐related quality of life among regional Australian primary school children: A repeat cross‐sectional study. Pediatr Obes. Published 18 December 2024. doi:10.
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