Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity Prevalence

Objective:The global obesity pandemic among children was defined at the beginning of the millennium.It has been shown that childhood obesity has increased with the deterioration of behavioral and environmental factors during the Coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic in various studies.This study aimed to evaluate childhood obesity rates and their underlying causes in İstanbul. Method:Children born in İstanbul in 2015 and who continue to reside in İstanbul with Turkish Nationality were our target population.The study population comprised 241, 121 children, and the sample was calculated as 191 children using the online sample size program.A stratified cluster sampling approach was used to select participants from every district in İstanbul.Parents were contacted by telephone, and those who agreed to participate in the study were invited to the family health centers where they were registered.The frequency analysis, chi-square test, t-test, and correlation analysis were conducted.The statistical significance level was set as p<0.05.Results: Of the children, 36.6% (n=70) were obese and overweight (obesity prevalence was 23.3%); and among those 60% (n=42) were female.Father's low educational level (p=0.016),eating 3 main meals more often (p=0.004),and regular consumption of packaged food regularly (p=0.034) were significantly associated with being overweight or obese.There was a significant increase in the body mass index of children in 2021 compared with 2019 (t=47,24; p<0.001). Conclusion:During the pandemic, childhood obesity was increased among six-year-old children in İstanbul.Considering that the probability of the occurrence of pandemics and disasters will increase in the coming years, public health interventions such as applications to increase children's physical activity should be planned and prepared.