Obesidad infantil en la era de COVID: La epidemia dentro de la pandemia

Abstract

Childhood obesity (CO) is a health problem whose primary cause is positive energy balance (increased food intake and decreased physical activity) and which has been aggravated by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and by the measures put in place to mitigate it by inducing a more obesogenic environment, sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits. Method and Purpose: Through a narrative review, we will describe the evidence of prevalence changes in CO during the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated factors. Findings: During the COVID-19 pandemic, significant increases in CO prevalence have been observed versus the pre-pandemic period, mainly affecting preschoolers. In addition, it has been possible to identify some elements possibly related to the changes observed such as screen time, eating habits, obesogenic environment, physical activity and sedentary lifestyle, depression and anxiety. Conclusiones: Despite the limited information from some countries regarding the behaviour of CO prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an evident need to improve epidemiological surveillance systems and make rigorous investments to improve research in this area.