The effect of covid 19 pandemic on childhood obesity in Turkey

Aim: We aimed to investigate the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the prevalence of obesity in childhood, laboratory parameters associated with obesity and children's lifestyle changes. Patients and Method: We included exogenous children with obesity and overweight between the ages of 6 and 17 who applied to the General Pediatric Polyclinic of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine between 2018 and 2021. We allocated the participants to two groups: those who applied before and after April 2020 (when the first patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 in Türkiye) and compared anthropometric measurements, biochemical values, and imaging results. We also subjected a survey regarding the demographic characteristics of the cases, nutritional behaviors, and physical activities. Results: Sex distribution did not alter during the pandemic. However, the prevalence of exogenous obesity doubled, morbidly obese people rate increased, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels increased, and triglyceride levels decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no significant difference between the two periods regarding Hemoglobin A1c, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein levels, blood pressures, and hepatosteatosis. Consumption of pastries, packaged foods, and desserts increased during the pandemic. Also, children's physical activity decreased whereas screen time and sleep time increased. Adolescents' Food Habits Checklist scores did not alter significantly. Conclusion: There were significant increase in consuming unhealthy foods, becoming physically inactive, and screen time during pandemic with insulin resistance, obesity and increased LDL-C.