Covid-19 pushes more children into obesity

On June 6, there was an air of expectation across the country that the partial lockdown measures in place would be eased.

However, with Kenya yet to reach the peak in infections, and with Nairobi and Mombasa counties continuing to record a sharp rise in infections, the majority of the measures were maintained. They included the advisory to continue working from home, cessation of movement, and the ban on all forms of social gatherings. The maintenance of these measures is not unique to Kenya. Globally, the majority of countries are either in full or partial lockdown.

While these lockdowns have helped curb the spread of the virus, they are having a negative ripple effect on children. A new study has shown that lockdowns are exacerbating cases of childhood obesity. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Buffalo and published in the journal Obesity, said the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns have negatively impacted diet, physical activity and sleep among children.

“The pandemic has collateral effects going beyond the direct viral infection. As a result, children and teens are struggling with obesity in a more vulnerable environment that does not support healthy lifestyle behaviour,” said Dr Myles Faith, a childhood obesity researcher at the University of Buffalo, who co-led the study.

From the study, the researchers determined that on average, children are eating an additional meal per day, sleeping an extra half hour per day, and adding about five hours per day in front of a mobile phone, a computer or a television. Additionally, children are now consuming more sugary drinks, junk food and red meat. “There is a decrease of more than two hours per week on physical activity,” the study report said. According to Dr Faith, the absence of school time has triggered obesity cases. “School environments provide structure and routine around meal time, physical activity and sleep, which are all predominant lifestyle factors that are implicated in obesity risk,” she said. In Kenya, schools are set to reopen from September 1 following a directive from President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Obesity is widely attributed as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. But, apart from the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, obesity is bound to present life term health implications. 

According to a report from the European Society of Cardiology, 90 per cent of childhood obesity will result in adulthood obesity. According to a report on obesity in Kenya by the World Obesity Federation, 8.4 per cent of children aged five to nine or 670,834 are likely to be obese by 2030. At the same time, 5.5 per cent of children aged 10 to 19 or 793,121 children in Kenya will be obese by 2030. “In total 1.5 million children in Kenya are expected to be obese within the next 10 years,” the report said.

According to Dr Faith, telemedicine is one of the ways that the rise in obesity in children can be curbed amid coronavirus lockdowns. “The pandemic has acutely slashed the availability of medical practitioners. Adjusting to telemedicine programmes that encourage the maintenance of healthy lifestyles during lockdowns should now be a necessity,” she said.