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| A note with students written on a desk in a classroom at an elementary school in Jung-gu, Seoul, is stuck. 2020.10.13/News 1 © News1 Reporter Seung-bae Lee |
It was found that children’s obesity and vitamin D deficiency increased as school was stopped for a long time due to the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19).
According to the team of professors Kang Hyun-mi, Jeong Dae-cheol, Seo Byeong-gyu, and Ahn Mun-bae of the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents at the Catholic University on the 13th, Corona 19 had a significant effect on child obesity and vitamin D deficiency.
The research team investigated changes in the body mass index (BMI) and vitamin D levels of students during the six months when school was stopped due to the corona19 epidemic and social distancing last year, and published the results of the study in the Journal of the Korean Society of Medicine (JKMS) on the 5th. .
The research team conducted a study on 226 children between the ages of 4 and 14 who did not have any specific disease from March to August 2020.
As a result of observation, the overall weight of children increased compared to before Corona 19. Based on the body mass index (BMI), the number of obese overweight children increased from 14.6% and 9.3% to 18.6% and 12.8%, respectively. In addition, 22 out of 165 children who maintained normal weight were newly classified as obese and overweight during the survey.
On the other hand, only 5 out of 21 children who were overweight changed to normal weight.
BMI is the weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m). In Korea, BMI 23~24.9 pre-obesity stage (overweight, 25~29.9 stage 1 obesity, 30~34.9 stage 2 obesity, and above 35 are classified as high obesity. In general, if the BMI index is 30 or higher, the risk of metabolic disease is high. do.
In addition, the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, rose from 94.0 mg/㎗ to 100.2 mg/㎗. It decreased to 18.9mg/㎗. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to metabolic syndrome.
The research team explained, “Most of the classes were switched to online learning during the school closing period, so children spent most of their time indoors and their exposure to sunlight was reduced.”
“This study aims to illuminate the detrimental effects of social distancing and school closures on children and adolescent health due to Corona 19, especially on weight and metabolic status.”