Change in the trend of diet and lifestyle patterns among Indian children during COVID-19 confinement: a cross-sectional study

Background: To assess the change in the trend of diet and lifestyle behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic in children and their association with various COVID-19-related consequences. Methods: A cross-sectional study that employed a structured 22-item questionnaire through teledentistry to 1500 children who previously visited the dental department of a tertiary hospital in Delhi. The dietary habits lifestyle changes (DHLC-COVID19) questionnaire, which was customized and validated for the study, and their COVID-19 related consequences were administered. Results: A statistically significant decreased intake of certain types of foods, high-carbohydrate snacks with a lower trend in snacking frequency was observed in children during COVID-19. The study investigated the association of variation of food intake in children i.e., ‘no consumption’ and ‘decreased consumption’ in relation to family members who lost their job during COVID-19 and depicted significant relation w.r.t families who got infected, lost their life during COVID-19. Determinants of these perceived changes were examined in multivariable regression models, Chi-square test and Mc Nemar test. Moreover, a significant change in lifestyle behaviours was also observed in children during COVID-19. The comparison of weight assessment during COVID-19 and performing/ engaging in physical activity during the period depicted that there was a statistically significant difference in proportion (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study provides evidence of the detrimental effects of COVID-19 be taken into consideration when developing and implementing public health policies to protect children's health both during and after the pandemic, especially among vulnerable youngsters on the social spectrum.