Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on elementary schoolers' physical activity, sleep, screen time and diet: A quasi‐experimental interrupted time series study

Summary

Background

COVID‐19 school closures pose a threat to children's wellbeing, but no COVID‐19‐related studies have assessed children's behaviours over multiple years .

Objective

To examine children's obesogenic behaviours during spring and summer of the COVID‐19 pandemic compared to previous data collected from the same children during the same calendar period in the 2 years prior.

Methods

Physical activity and sleep data were collected via Fitbit Charge‐2 in 231 children (7–12 years) over 6 weeks during spring and summer over 3 years. Parents reported their child's screen time and dietary intake via a survey on 2–3 random days/week.

Results

Children's behaviours worsened at a greater rate following the pandemic onset compared to pre‐pandemic trends. During pandemic spring, sedentary behaviour increased (+79 min; 95% CI = 60.6, 97.1) and MVPA decreased (−10 min, 95% CI = −18.2, −1.1) compared to change in previous springs (2018–2019). Sleep timing shifted later (+124 min; 95% CI = 112.9, 135.5). Screen time (+97 min, 95% CI = 79.0, 115.4) and dietary intake increased (healthy: +0.3 foods, 95% CI = 0.2, 0.5; unhealthy: +1.2 foods, 95% CI = 1.0, 1.5). Similar patterns were observed during summer.

Conclusions

Compared to pre‐pandemic measures, children's PA, sedentary behaviour, sleep, screen time, and diet were adversely altered during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This may ultimately exacerbate childhood obesity.