522 - Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Activity and Sleep Habits in Children and Adolescents with Obesity

Poster Number: 522

Karnika Singh, duke university, Durham, NC, United States; Sarah Armstrong, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States; Jessilyn Dunn, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent mitigation measures have had a significant and negative impact on children’s health, particularly with respect to mental health and obesity. Emerging studies, based on qualitative or self-reported data, suggest that children experienced declines in physical activity and disruption in sleep patterns as a result of widespread school closures. Both physical activity and sleep are directly correlated with mental health and obesity. However, no objective data have reported physical activity or sleep longitudinally across the pandemic period in children and adolescents. 

Objective: Here we report objectively measured physical activity using actigraphy in a cohort of children aged 5-17 followed longitudinally from March 2018 to June 2021. Our objective was to describe mean monthly activity and sleep differences as a function of school closure.

Design/Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis using information collected as part of a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of a community-based intervention for treatment of child obesity. We objectively measured daily step count values and sleep duration using Garmin Vivofit 3 devices before, during, and after school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic to quantify the changes that occurred due to lockdown measures on children and adolescents with obesity (Nf253).

Results: As compared with 2018-2019, mean daily step counts decreased by over 1670 steps, sleep onset was delayed by about an hour, and overall sleep duration decreased by over 35 minutes on an average, following school lockdowns on March 15, 2020. These new activity and sleep habits remained relatively consistent through the pandemic and only began returning to the pre-pandemic average values with the reopening of schools.Conclusion(s): Significant decreases in objectively measured physical activity and sleep were observed in children with pre-existing obesity, following school closures implemented in March 2020 as a mitigation measure following the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity and sleep are strongly associated with mental health and weight status in children and policymakers should consider these potential negative effects in decision-making for school closure.