The widespread concerns about the “Covid-19 obesity” have become a reality among Korean children and adolescents, a group of researchers said here Monday.

Professors Choi Yeon-ho (left) and Kim Mi-jin at Samsung Medical Center have confirmed that a decline in activity due to Covid-19 has led to an increase in obesity rates among Korean children and adolescents. (SMC)
Professors Choi Yeon-ho (left) and Kim Mi-jin at Samsung Medical Center have confirmed that a decline in activity due to Covid-19 has led to an increase in obesity rates among Korean children and adolescents. (SMC)

The research team at Samsung Medical Center (SMC), led by Professors Choi Yeon-ho and Kim Mi-jin, found that all indicators related to obesity, such as weight and body mass index (BMI), have increased compared with the period before the government suspended in-person education.

The study analyzed 90 students aged 6-18 diagnosed with obesity who visited the hospital at least twice between December 2019 and May 2020. The students participating in the study were 12.2 years old on average, and male students accounted for 77.8 percent of the total participants. Their average weight was 67.2kg, and their BMI was 26.7 kg/m².

The research team compared the differences by examining indicators related to obesity, including weight, at about four-month intervals.

“The study was the first one that put obese children to an actual test to reveal body changes as the indirect effects of Covid-19,” the team said.

All indicators related to obesity deteriorated, starting with the suspension of school attendance. The average weight increased by 4kg to 71.1kg, and the average BMI also increased to 27.7kg/㎡ from 26.7 kg/m². “Even considering the children are in their prime, all indicators were outside the normal range,” the team said.

The team also confirmed that the metabolic syndrome indicators increased as the average total cholesterol rose from 160.3 mg/㎗ to 169.5 mg/㎗.

Regarding triglycerides, another important indicator for obesity, there was a bigger difference as the average increased from 126.7mg/㎗ to 160.6mg/㎗, and students’ liver somatic indexes increased compared to before suspension of schools.

Notably, 53 patients diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver showed a significant increase in glycated hemoglobin from 5.6 to 6.9 percent. In comparison, there was no difference in glycated hemoglobin levels among the remaining 37 patients who did not have non-alcoholic fatty liver.

“Students maintained their eating habits while reducing outside activities significantly after the suspension of school,” the team said. “Therefore, students need to increase their physical activity by doing exercises at home and pay more attention to their diet control than usual.”

Students diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver along with obesity should take an active interest in controlling their blood sugar by consulting with doctors, it added.

“As many difficulties are resulting from Covid-19, it is easy to overlook childhood obesity as a temporary phenomenon,” Professor Kim said. “However, students need to take better care of their health as obesity accompanied by metabolic diseases can lead to long-term health problems.”

Scientific Reports has published the results of the study.

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