Factors associated with children's dietary patterns during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a multinational study across Middle Eastern Arab Nations
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Middle Eastern Arab children’s eating habits, body weight, lifestyle, physical activity, sleeping hours, use of smart electronic devices, and mental health. The exploratory study utilized a self-administered questionnaire distributed to parents of children aged 4–12 years. Multinomial logistic regression was used to model the relationship between the predictors and children’s body weight changes during the pandemic. A total of 891 responses were collected from Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Oman. The average weight gain among children during the pandemic was 4.19 ± 3.08 Kg. Sedentary lifestyle significantly increased from 4% (pre-pandemic) to 17.9% (during the pandemic, unadjusted odds ratio [UOR] = 5.2, P < 0.001). Sleeping hours exceeding 9 hours per day rose from 26.2% to 38.2% (UOR = 1.73, P < 0.01), and emotional eating increased from 72% to 91.5% (UOR = 4.18, P < 0.001). Moreover, 84% of parents reported increased use of smart electronic devices by their children (5.48 ± 2.87 hours). A significant proportion of children exhibited elevated levels of nagging (44.2%), stress (33.8%), loneliness (26.9%), and anxiety (22.5%). Factors associated with increased body weight included being female (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.32, P < 0.005), residing in Jordan and Bahrain (AOR = 3.39 and 3.34, respectively, P < 0.001), having a working mother (AOR = 1.38, P = 0.03), having overweight parents (AOR = 1.2 for mothers and 1.68 for fathers, P < 0.05) with high-income (AOR = 1.31, P = 0.04), and being overweight prior to the pandemic (AOR = 13.76, P < 0.001). These findings highlight the negative impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on children's health. Effective mitigation of future lockdown-related health consequences necessitates comprehensive interventions involving collaboration among health authorities, parents, and schools. A multifaceted approach encompassing educational initiatives, promoting physical activity and healthy eating habits, establishing clear screen time guidelines, and offering robust mental health support is imperative.
Author
Ayoub, Klodia Haithem
Mukattash, Tareq L.
Al-Nabulsi, Anas A.
Khojah, Hani M J.
Abu-Farha, Rana
Alzayani, Salman
El-Dahiyat, Faris
Alefishat, Eman
Al-Taie, Anmar
Karout, Samar
Al-Hashar, Amna K.
Rahme, Deema
Jarab, Anan S.
Itani, Rania