A Risk to Consider in the Pandemic: Weight Gain in Youths

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 17 - 23, 28.02.2022

Mürşide Zengin , Mehmet Emin Düken , Emriye Hilal Yayan

https://doi.org/10.33716/bmedj.1045913

Abstract

Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate whether the lockdown for outbreak will pose a risk in terms of weight gain in youths by determining daily activity levels, screen time and calorie amounts. Material and Method: This prospective and descriptive study was conducted during the initial stage of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown. The research data were collected from youths aged 15–20 years, residing in a province in the southeast of Turkey. Research data were collected through the online interview method from a total of 67 youths residing in the family health center area of a district in the specified province. Results: The daily physical activity time was 36.41±49.09 minutes, their sleep time was 9.34±1.58 hours, and screen time was 7.70±4.20 hours of the youths. Of the youths, 44.8% had taken more necessary
than daily calories. It was found that youths were gained 2.13±2.02 kg during the initial stage of the COVID-19 lockdown. Conclusion: The results of the research showed that nearly half of the youths received more calories than they should take daily, they consumed unhealthy foods more frequently, their daily physical activity time was low, and their screen times were long during the initial stage of the COVID-19 lockdown. It was thought to be important to take necessary precautions against a possible global childhood obesity crisis in the future. In line with the research findings, it can be said that young people should be evaluated separately in terms of nutrition and weight gain in future pandemics.

Keywords

Feeding behavior, outbreaks, youth, weight gain

Salgında Dikkate Alınması Gereken Bir Risk: Gençlerde Ağırlık Artışı

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, salgındaki kapanmada gençlerin günlük aktivite düzeylerinin, ekran sürelerinin ve kalori miktarlarının belirlenerek, kapanmanın gençlerde kilo alımı açısından oluşturacağı riskin belirlenmesi amaçlandı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Prospektif ve tanımlayıcı tipteki çalışma, Koronavirus Hastalığı 2019 (KOVİD-19) kapanmasının ilk aşamasında gerçekleştirildi. Araştırma verileri Türkiye'nin Güneydoğusundaki bir ilde ikamet eden 15-20 yaş arası gençlerden toplandı. Araştırma verileri, belirtilen ilin bir ilçesindeki aile sağlığı merkezi bölgesinde ikamet eden toplam 67 gençten online görüşme yöntemiyle toplandı. Bulgular: Gençlerin günlük fiziksel aktivite süresi 36.41±49.09 dakika, uyku süresi 9.34±1.58 saat ve ekran başında kalma süresi
7.70±4.20 saatti. Gençlerin %44.8'i günlük alması gereken kaloriden daha fazlasını aldı. KOVİD-19 kapanmasının ilk aşamasında gençlerin 2.13±2.02 kg aldığı tespit edildi. Sonuç: Araştırma sonuçları, KOVİD-19 kapanmasının ilk aşamasında gençlerin yaklaşık yarısının günlük almaları gerekenden daha fazla kalori aldıklarını, sağlıksız yiyecekleri daha sık tükettiklerini, günlük fiziksel aktivite sürelerinin düşük olduğunu ve ekran sürelerinin uzun olduğunu gösterdi. Gelecekte olası bir küresel çocukluk çağı obezite krizine karşı gerekli önlemlerin alınmasının önemli olduğu düşünülmektedir. Araştırma bulguları doğrultusunda ileride olası pandemilerde de gençlerin beslenme ve kilo alımı açısından ayrıca değerlendirilmesi gerektiği söylenebilir.

Keywords

beslenme davranışı, salgınlar, genç, ağırlık artışı

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