Researchers Advocate For Public Health Intervention Efforts After Study Reveals Pandemic Isolation Led To Increased BMI And Decreased Cardiovascular Fitness Among Both Adults And Children
While working on a federal brain health research project, Lauren Raine– from Northeastern University’s Center for Cognitive and Brain Health– was astounded by the impacts that COVID-19 isolation had on the fitness levels of adults and children.
“It had only been four to five months of isolation, and people were drastically different,” she explained.
Raine led a research team to quantify these results for a new study, which was recently published in Frontiers in Public Health.
The analysis showed increases in Body Mass Index (BMI) among participants both before and during COVID-19 lockdowns. Additionally, the study revealed participants’ cardiovascular fitness had decreased.
Preventative steps taken by both policymakers and community members to reduce exposure to COVID-19 might have inadvertently decreased peoples’ physical activity levels to a significant extent of unhealthiness.
“I don’t think we quite realized the impact [of the shutdowns],” Raine revealed.
“People in the physical therapy department will tell you that if you stop exercising, you see declines very quickly. But people in the general population may say, ‘What’s the big deal if I sat around for two weeks?’ It’s a big deal.”
Prior to the pandemic, the team compared the BMIs and aerobic capacities of 493 adults between the ages of 65 and 80 years old. Then, during the pandemic, the study included 100 adults within that age range.
These adults all resided at three locations in Boston, Pittsburgh, and Kansas; meanwhile, the children participants were located within a one-hour drive from Boston.
AntonioDiaz – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Among the adults, cardiovascular fitness– which was measured while participants exercised on a treadmill– declined by 30%. And among children, the decline was even more significant at 53%.
In both groups, BMI rose as well. Among adults, BMI increased from 29.5 to 31.3. And among children, BMI increased from 18 to 19.3.
Although, the researchers did note that it is challenging to assess the significance of this rise in children due to changing body composition and rapid growth rates.
Regardless, previous reports indicated that children in the highest BMI categories were most severely impacted by shutdown-induced BMI increases.
“Our data falls in line with that,” Raine said.
Prior to the pandemic, Americans of all ages were already confronted with high rates of obesity. So, Raine believes new steps must be taken to battle the post-pandemic pounds.
“We need to have some public health strategies to help people get back on the right trajectory. And before the next pandemic appears on the horizon, there should be plans on how to prevent loss of fitness.”
The researchers also noted that there would not be a one-size-fits-all solution that works for all families. In turn, these approaches must be creative and thoughtful and prioritize widespread accessibility.
To read the study’s complete findings, visit the link here.
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