Different Variations of Intra-familial Body Mass Index Subjected to COVID-19 Lockdown

The COVID-19 lockdown has represented an unedited model of increased metabolic risk in all age groups, due to negative changes in dietary habits, physical activity, lifestyle. These effects have been generally explored at a population level in distinct age groups. Potential intra-familial, specific effects in adults and children sharing the same socio-economic, cultural level and living habits have been scarcely explored. The investigators aimed to extend the previous observations concerning anthropometric data at the intra-familial level. In particular, The investigators prospectively characterized the variations in lifestyle habits and related outcomes over a 2 two months COVID-19 lockdown period, exploring both parents and their children. A cohort of 149 couple parent/children were prospectively enrolled. By a validated questionnaire The investigators explored changes of Body Mass Index (BMI) and individual lifestyle during a 2-month lockdown.

The pandemic diffusion of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 caused major impacts on health, economy, and social dynamics. During the first wave of the pandemic, besides the direct effect of the COVID-19 disease, staying at home has promoted, in non-infected subjects, sedentary lifestyle, negative psychological consequences, restriction in spending, and accumulation of long-life food with limited use of fresh foods, such as seasonal fruit and vegetables. As a consequence, the lockdown has represented a population-based, inedited model of increased metabolic risk in all age groups, able to affect the health status in a relatively short period.

Previous studies reported negative metabolic outcomes of the lockdown both adults and in children. These effects have been linked with altered eating behavior and lifestyle, with a significant reduction in physical activity, and with an impairment of psychological health. However, these studies were based on self-reported questionnaires, which may lead to misreporting of data. Furthermore, the reported effects on body size variations have been generally explored, at a population level, in separate age groups, and the existence of possible intra-familial, distinct outcomes in adults and children sharing the same critical event and living environment have been scarcely explored.

Although several studies have shown the impact of Lockdown on metabolic status, potential intra-familial, specific effects in adults and children sharing the same socio-economic, cultural level and living habits have been scarcely explored. In the present study The investigators had the chance to dissect the intra-familial impact of two month of lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic on BMI in a large cohort of non-infected parents and in their children/adolescents.

Primary objective: to characterize changes of dietary habits, lifestyle and anthropometric indices in parents and in their children during lockdown.