CONCEALED BURDEN OF UNDERNUTRITION AND OVERNUTRITION AMONG SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN DURING COVID 19 PANDEMIC IN KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT
##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##
Abstract
Objectives: COVID- 19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in children's lifestyles leading to increased burden of undernutrition and overnutrition. This study was designed to document lifestyle behaviour changes in school-going children aged 6 to 12 years of Kanyakumari district during COVID -19 pandemic and to analyze the burden of overnutrition and undernutrition.
Methodology: This is a Cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Paediatric OPD of Kanyakumari Government Medical college hospital, India. 200 school-going children between the ages of 6 – 12 were selected using a consecutive sampling technique. A detailed questionnaire about dietary habits and physical activity was formatted. In addition, height and weight measurements were performed, and BMI was calculated.
Results: The cohort comprised 200 children, of which 111 were females (55.5%) and 89 (44.5%) were males. The cohorts were divided based on age into three groups: 6-8 years (n=92), 9-10 years (n=52), 11-12 years (n=56). 43 children (21.5%) gave a history of consuming fast foods. 64 children (32%) of them engaged in some form of physical activity, while 136 children (68%) gave a history of sedentary lifestyle. One child (0.5%) was underweight, 33 were borderline (16.5%), 153 were normal (76.5%), 8 were overweight (4%), and 5 (2.5%) were obese. A statistical significance relation (P=0.001) was found between fast food and BMI.
Conclusion: Poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles established during the COVID-19 pandemic can be difficult for both parents and children to reverse. Childhood is an important time to learn and inculcate healthy eating habits that continue into adulthood. Most notably, malnutrition at a young age can have long-term consequences. The study was able to demonstrate a definite correlation between eating habits and health outcomes in children.
Keywords: COVID-19, BMI, Children, nutritional status