Follow-up of body mass index and lifestyle changes in adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown

The prevalence of obesity among adolescents has been increasing in the last 30 years. Obesity seen in adolescence causes many diseases with high mortality and morbidity as it continues into adulthood. Due to the social isolation that has entered our lives due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the amount of physical activity of many individuals has been limited and the risk of obesity has increased. In this study, it was aimed to determine the body mass index and lifestyle changes of adolescents during the Covid-19 lock-in period. Adolescents who applied to Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Medical Faculty Hospital Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic in June 2020 were included in the study. The scale examining the participants' sociodemographic, anthropometric information and nutrition-exercise behaviors was administered as a pre-test and post-test. The sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle and body mass index changes of the participants were evaluated. Participants consisted of 77 people, 64.9% female (n: 50), 35.1% (n: 27) male, and the mean age was 16.64 ± 0.16. There is a statistically significant difference between the participants' body mass index percentile mean at the beginning and end of the curfew (p:0.014), but no statistically significant difference was found in the body mass mean at the beginning and end of the free time (p:0.372). 57.1% of the participants stated that their exercise behaviors decreased after the pandemic. The time spent in front of the screen during the curfew period decreased after the restrictions were lifted (p:0.043). In our research, it was shown that he gained more weight in the curfew. The prevalence of obesity, which is increasing day by day among adolescents, is at risk of further increasing with curfews. With the Covid-19 pandemic, the fight against obesity in adolescents has gained a different dimension, and more focus should be placed on groups at risk.