Social distancing, cardiometabolic risk and psychosocial change in obese children during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objectives: To correlate the data of the waist / height ratio in the social distance resulting from SARS-CoV-2 with the period before the pandemic in obese and eutrophic children, and to compare the psychosocial behavior of anxiety with hyperphagia and pinching habits of obese children. Method: Case-control study carried out at the Center for Medical Specialties for Children and Adolescents in Aracaju-Sergipe, with 30 obese and 10 eutrophic children. Results: The waist / height ratio in the pre and post social isolation in boys was 0.64 and 0.74 respectively (p <0.001) and in girls it was 0.72 before isolation and 0.81 after (p <0.001); obese children were already showing anxiety behavior both in pre-isolation (OR = 5.4) and in post (OR = 9.6); and hyperphagic and pinching eating behavior in pre-isolation (OR = 7.2) and post (OR = 9.2). Conclusion: It was observed that social distance promoted an increase in central obesity and anxiety, reflected with hyperphagic and pinching habits.