Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Dietary Patterns and Physical Activity in Overweight and Obese Adolescents Based on Body Fat Percentages

Abstract

Background: Obese and overweight adolescents have a high risk of COVID-19 susceptibility and severity compared to normal nutritional status. Although a healthy dietary pattern and physical activity do not entirely prevent infection, they play a substantial role in the host's response to infectious agents. The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes in dietary patterns and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic in overweight and obese adolescents based on body fat percentages (BFP). Method: A cross-sectional study using purposive sampling was conducted on 159 adolescents from selected high schools in West Lampung, Indonesia. Data collection was assessed using a body composition scale and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Data analysis was performed using SPSS. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze the differences between the two adolescent groups. Result: The overweight and obese adolescents group increased the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages compared to the normal group (p0.05). Both groups were found to have no significant difference in physical activity, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (p>0.05). Conclusion: Adolescents with normal body fat percentages (BFP) tend to have better dietary patterns, in contrast to overweight and obese adolescents with a high BFP who tend to have a decrease in the quality of their dietary patterns. Then, both groups were found to have a significant decrease in the frequency of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.