Did the increase in sitting time due to COVID-19 lead to over-weight or obesity in adolescents? A study based on the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS) 2018-2021

Introduction: This study aimed to estimate the association between obesity and sitting hours in Korean adolescents with obesity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Since adolescent with obesity is closely linked with the incidence of cardiovascular disease, it is important to identify the factors that increase the prevalence of adolescent with obesity and prevent it early. Methods: We used the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS) data. The primary outcome variables were changes in obesity status during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between increased sitting hours for purposes other than study and obesity status. Results: : The prevalence of obesity was significantly higher during the COVID-19 pan-demic than before the COVID-19 pandemic (odds ratio [OR], 1.186, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.148–1.226). There was a significant increase in the OR for sitting hours per week for purposes other than study (OR, 1.02, 95% CI, 1.018–1.023). Compared to low household income students, the OR decreased for middle- (OR = 0.801, 95% CI:0.796, 0.871) and high-income household students (OR, 0.832, 95% CI: 0.796–0.871). Discussion: /Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the relationship between sit-ting hours and obesity in adolescents during the pandemic. To prevent or avoid adolescent with obesity, further studies are needed to understand whether the increase in obesity rates during the pandemic is a temporary trend.