The results of the OKkio alla Salute (National Institute of Health) surveillance system on over 50 thousand primary school pupils. The effects of the pandemic on the lifestyles and well-being of children and their families
19 percent of Italian children are in overweight9.8 percent live with theobesity. One in five children does not perform regularly physical activityone in four drinks every day sugary/carbonated drinksalmost half passes more than two hours per day in front of the TV screen, mobile phone or tablet. And, after the pandemic, children are sadder and lonely. These are some data presented during a conference at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, taken from the national surveillance system «OK to Health» (2023) – coordinated by the National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CNaPPS) of the Institute – and by the EPaS-Iss study «Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health behaviors and lifestyle of girls, boys and their families residents in Italy”, promoted and financed by the Institute and conducted in collaboration with the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) of the European Region of the World Health Organization.
Table habits
«OKkio alla Salute» is a national surveillance system – involving all the Regions – on overweight and obesity and related risk factors in primary school children (6-10 years). It is coordinated by the National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion of the Institute, as part of the initiative of the WHO European Region «Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative-COSI». Well, from the data collected in 2023 on over 50 thousand children and as many familieswho reported the habits of their children, it turns out that almost one in five is overweight, one in ten obese and, among the latter, 2.6 percent have asevere obesity.
But what do children eat? Almost two in five don’t eat an adequate breakfastmore than half consume aplentiful snack by mid-morning, one in four drinks every day sugary/carbonated drinks and eat fruit and vegetables less than once a day. As for the legumes37 percent of children eat them less than once a week, while more than half eat sweet snacks more than three days a week.
Lack of physical activity
The data processed by the «OKkio alla Salute» surveillance system highlights that one in five children did not do so physical activity the day before the interview, less than 30 percent walked or cycled to school, almost half spent more than two hours a day in front of the TV screen, mobile phone or tablet.
Health implications
The indicators on eating habits and physical activity have only changed slightly compared to the data collection done in 2019. A higher excess weight continues to be recorded (but stable) in children living in the South. Furthermore, the socio-economic conditions of families influence lifestyles in general.
«The data, while noting a decrease in child excess weight from 2008 to today, still highlight high prevalences of excess weight And inappropriate lifestyles of girls and boys, that they may have implications for their health – comments Professor Giovanni Capelli, director of the CNaPPS –. School, family, health professionals and the whole society can play an important role in prevention and treatment of obesity and in the promotion of healthy lifestyles. It’s a priority address unjustifiable inequalities due to geographical and socioeconomic factors”.
Effects of the pandemic on children’s well-being
During the conference, the results of the EPaS-Iss study were also presented «Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health behaviors and lifestyle of girls, boys and their families residing in Italy». The quantitative and qualitative survey, carried out thanks to the OKkio alla Salute network from 2021 to 2023, involved children in the third year of primary school and their families.
The study found that, during the pandemic period, it is increased consumption of salty snacks (24%) and sweet foods (25%) and, instead, slightly the fruit one dropped (8%) and vegetables (9%). Gods have also been recorded positive changes such as a greater consumption of family meals (39%) and food cooked at home by parents together with their children (42%).
Moms and dads have reported that, compared to the pre-pandemic period, it is worsened physical and psychosocial well-being of children. In particular, they noted a loss of vitality and energyas well as a increase of feelings of sadness and loneliness. In analogy with what was found at an international level, the data from the study on movement and sedentary lifestyle highlight one reduction of time dedicated to active play and outdoor activities (44%) and a increase weather elapsed in front of an electronic device (53%).
The study also reports an increase in educational inequalities following the distance schoolespecially among the most vulnerable children.
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