J Clin Med. 2023 Sep 12;12(18):5909. doi: 10.3390/jcm12185909. PMID: 37762850; PMCID: PMC10531996.
PMID: 37762850; PMCID: PMC10531996.
ABSTRACT
There has been a major ongoing health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s lives, including lifestyle and overall health. Enforcement of prevention measures, such as school closures and social distancing, has significantly affected children’s daily routines and activities. This perspective manuscript aims to explore the rise in childhood obesity and its association with hypertension during pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant disruptions in children’s routines, including reduced physical activity, increased sedentary behavior, and changes in dietary patterns. These factors, coupled with the psychological impact of the pandemic, have contributed to an alarming increase in childhood obesity rates. This paper has highlighted the concerning increase in childhood obesity and hypertension during pandemics. The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including reduced physical activity, increased sedentary behaviors, and changes in dietary patterns, have contributed to the rise in these health conditions. It is crucial to recognize the long-term consequences of childhood obesity and hypertension and the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to address them.
Keywords: childhood; food habits; hypertension; obesity; pandemics; sedentary.