Long-term Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Weight Status, Eating Habits, and Lifestyle Changes Related to School-aged Children in Bandar Abbas, Iran

Abstract: Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures caused destructivechanges in students' weight status, eating habits, and lifestyles. This study aimed to determinethe long-term effects of the lockdown on the weight status, eating habits, and lifestyle changesof children and adolescents in Iran. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study wasconducted from April to May 2022. The target population comprised one hundred students agedbetween 10 and 16 years. Our study obtained students' weight and height data from recordsmaintained by school principals or sports teachers before and after the quarantine period. TheBMI z-score (zBMI) was calculated for each time point. The researchers also provided aquestionnaire to collect the students’ demographic and lifestyle status changes during schoolclosures. Results: We found that the zBMI increased significantly from -0.02 ± 1.64 to 0.36 ±1.12, and the number of individuals with overweight and obesity increased by 3% duringquarantine (P ≤ 0.05). These changes were more pronounced in males and students aged 14-16years. We also found that eating habits, sleep time, sleep patterns, screen time, and physicalactivity had significant negative changes during quarantine, and a significant increase in zBMIwas observed among students who experienced negative eating behaviors, altered sleeppatterns, and decreased physical activity during school closures. Conclusion: As prolongedschool closures due to the COVID-19 lockdown aggravated students’ health and lifestyle status,our findings can aid in proper planning to establish an appropriate framework for the diet,physical activity, and sleep quality of students during extended school closures.

Long-term Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Weight Status, Eating Habits, and Lifestyle Changes Related to School-aged Children in Bandar Abbas, Iran Keywords:

COVID-19 , Lockdown , Children , school , Obesity , Overweight , Weight status , Lifestyle