COVID-19, Obesity and Lifestyle in Children (COLC)

Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC)

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Overweight, Childhood; Lifestyle; Lifestyle, Healthy; Obesity, Childhood; Family; Children, Only; Covid-19

Treatments: Other: Exposure to the Dutch measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04411511

2020-1330

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its measures on lifestyle in Dutch children between 4 - 18 years.

Full description

The threat of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, from here onward mentioned as COVID-19) and the national measures to restrict transmission of COVID-19 in the Dutch population have caused a radical change in the daily life of Dutch citizens. Closing of schools and public locations, even as the public order for social distancing and self-isolation, is affecting the daily structure and lifestyle habits of Dutch children greatly. These radical changes in the current situation could yield important information regarding the health behaviour of children and their families. Knowledge of these changes and their effects on the health behaviour of these children and their families could influence future interventions and regulations regarding health behaviour. Current (preliminary) prevalence figures show that up to 80% of patients infected with COVID-19 are overweight or obese, indicating that being overweight or obese could be a potential adverse predisposition in the course of a COVID-19 infection. In the light of this (and possible future) pandemic, it is important to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health behaviour i.e. lifestyle of children (aged between 4 and 18 years) and their families and especially the effects on possible weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier studies demonstrated that in particular children with overweight/obesity gain weight in situations when schools close such as during summer holidays and also during (economic) crisis. It is of importance to investigate the effects of the Corona-crisis in particular in these children with a high health risk.

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its measures on lifestyle in lean children and children with overweight and obesity. It evaluates differences in subgroups, e.a. lean/overweight children, socio-economic status, gender and age.

Study design is a mixed-methods study. Children and/or parents will receive online questionnaires regarding lifestyle during governemantal measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic, such as closure of schools and sportclubs.

In addition, several children and parents will be interviewed about the changes in lifestyle, and their needs for working on lifestyle, during the pandemic, for in-depth qualitative information.

Enrollment: 4,000 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 17 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children between 4 - 18 years.
• Living in The Netherlands.

Exclusion criteria

• No signed informed consent by relevant parties (parents of children aged below 12 years, parents and or children aged between 12 and 16 years, or children aged 16 years and older)

Trial design

4,000 participants in 2 patient groups

Lean children

Description:

Children between 4-18 years, living in the Netherlands.

Treatment:

Other: Exposure to the Dutch measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Children with overweight or obesity

Description:

Children between 4-18 years, living in the Netherlands. Besides inclusion from the general population, childhood expertise centres will contact their patients to pay attention to this study.

Treatment:

Other: Exposure to the Dutch measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.