Lockdowns implemented across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively impacted diet, sleep and physical activity among children with obesity, warn researchers. "The tragic Covid-19 pandemic has collateral effects extending beyond direct viral infection," said study co-author Myles Faith from the University at Buffalo in the US. "Children and teens struggling with obesity are placed in an unfortunate position of isolation that appears to create an unfavourable environment for maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviours," Faith added.

Children and adolescents typically gain more weight during summer vacation than during the school year, which led the researchers to wonder if being homebound would have a similar effect on the kids- lifestyle behaviours. For the findings, published in the journal Obesity, the researchers surveyed 41 children and teens with obesity under confinement throughout March and April in Verona, Italy. Lifestyle information regarding diet, activity and sleep was collected three weeks into Italy-s mandatory national lockdown and compared to data on the children gathered in 2019.