Long-COVID and post-COVID effects on childhood related to physical inactivity: A home-based exercise prescription

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. Implementing social distancing policy measures, such as the stay-at-home order, to control the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) not only has affected lifestyles and weights in children but has also created an obesity-inducing environment, leading to modifications in the patterns of interactions between this age group and their surrounding environment. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic has been effective in childhood obesity and its prevalence rate may continue increasing. This narrative review aimed to synthesize evidence from global studies on physical inactivity, and obesity among children and adolescents during COVID-19, and then prescribe an evidence-based home exercise guideline for this age group. The study findings revealed that the COVID-19 restrictions have drastically multiplied physical inactivity and obesity in children. It has been further established that childhood obesity leads to numerous chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), psychosomatic disorders, lung diseases, and other metabolic problems in childhood and even as children grow up. Physical activity/exercise at home during and after COVID-19 has been correspondingly demonstrated to mitigate the problems associated with obesity. A wide range of resistance, aerobic, balance, flexibility and other types of exercises have been accordingly shown to protect against the negative effects of the pandemic on child health. Hence, efforts to facilitate such exercises are suggested to continue and be scaled up to prevent childhood obesity and relevant diseases during and after this unusual period.

Keywords

• obesity
• covid-19
• pandemic
• children
• exercise