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Androja L, Bavčević T, Jurčev Savičević A, Bavčević D, Ninčević J, Buljan A, Nonković D, Rodrigues V, Karin Ž. Body Mass Index Trends before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Primary School Students in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia: A Retrospective Study. Nutrients 2023; 16:50. [PMID: 38201879 PMCID: PMC10780733 DOI: 10.3390/nu16010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Within the last decade, childhood obesity has become a serious problem, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research paper aimed to examine whether body mass index (BMI) was higher during the pandemic (2020-2022) than in the pre-pandemic period (2012/2013-2019) using trends related to sex, urban-rural area, and physical activity (PA). This study included data from physical examinations of an entire population of primary school children from Split-Dalmatia County (Croatia) over a period of 10 years. There were 103,804 students from the first, fifth, and eighth grades who participated in the analysis. During the pandemic, the BMI of all the students increased, except for eighth-grade girls. Generations of eighth graders have had significantly different BMIs throughout the past decade. We found that first graders were overweight and obese in urban areas, while in rural areas, this problem was experienced by upper grades. Girls were more overweight and obese in the first and eighth grades, but boys experienced this more in the fifth grade. Reduced PA influenced an increase in BMI in both sexes, especially in girls. During the pandemic, this situation became worse. This study could be useful to experts for the creation of new policies for Split-Dalmatia County and surrounding regions that are similar economically and culturally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luka Androja
- School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia; (L.A.)
- Department of Sports Management, Aspira University of Applied Sciences, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Tonči Bavčević
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Anamarija Jurčev Savičević
- School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia; (L.A.)
- Teaching Institute for Public Health of Split-Dalmatia County, 21000 Split, Croatia
- Department of Health Studies, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Damir Bavčević
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Jasna Ninčević
- Teaching Institute for Public Health of Split-Dalmatia County, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Anita Buljan
- Teaching Institute for Public Health of Split-Dalmatia County, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Diana Nonković
- Teaching Institute for Public Health of Split-Dalmatia County, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Vitor Rodrigues
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3030-222 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Željka Karin
- School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia; (L.A.)
- Teaching Institute for Public Health of Split-Dalmatia County, 21000 Split, Croatia
- Department of Health Studies, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
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Fehkührer S, Humer E, Kaltschik S, Pieh C, Probst T, Diestler G, Jesser A. Young People and the Future: School Students' Concerns and Hopes for the Future after One Year of COVID-19 in Austria-Findings of a Mixed-Methods Pilot Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2242. [PMID: 37628439 PMCID: PMC10454506 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11162242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in enormous changes in everyday life and numerous burdens for adolescents. This pilot study focused on how young people look to the future in the face of these burdens. Responses to two open-ended questions on concerns and hopes for the future that were part of a larger online survey on the mental health of school students in Austria were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Subsequently, differences in the experiences of boys and girls, young people with and without a migration background and psychologically stressed and non-stressed young people were examined by applying a mixed-methods approach. Data collection took place from 3 February to 28 February 2021. From a total survey sample of 3052 adolescents aged 14-20, a representative sample according to gender and migration background (N = 500) was drawn. Qualitative content analysis revealed several areas of concern about the future, including school-related concerns, concerns about the further development of the pandemic and the associated restrictions, concerns related to a lack of locus of control, health-related concerns and concerns about social relationships. The analysis also indicated young people's greatest hopes for the future, such as hopes related to further pandemic development, hopes regarding major life goals, school, social relationships and health. Young people's experiences differ according to gender, migration background and the extent of psychological distress. This study contributes to research on the psychological well-being of adolescents during the pandemic and provides important insights into the subjective experience of young people. It aims to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the concerns and hopes for the future of young people in a time marked by various challenges. The results of the study should be used to develop ideas for measures, such as the expansion of school psychological services and low-threshold support services for students, such as school social work and counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Fehkührer
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Continuing Education Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria; (S.F.); (E.H.); (S.K.); (C.P.); (T.P.)
| | - Elke Humer
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Continuing Education Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria; (S.F.); (E.H.); (S.K.); (C.P.); (T.P.)
- Faculty of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, 1020 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Kaltschik
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Continuing Education Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria; (S.F.); (E.H.); (S.K.); (C.P.); (T.P.)
| | - Christoph Pieh
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Continuing Education Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria; (S.F.); (E.H.); (S.K.); (C.P.); (T.P.)
| | - Thomas Probst
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Continuing Education Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria; (S.F.); (E.H.); (S.K.); (C.P.); (T.P.)
| | - Gertraud Diestler
- Österreichischer Arbeitskreis für Gruppentherapie und Gruppendynamik, Fachsektion Integrative Gestalt Therapy Vienna, 1080 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Andrea Jesser
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Continuing Education Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria; (S.F.); (E.H.); (S.K.); (C.P.); (T.P.)
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