Changes in lifestyle behaviours during theCOVID-19 confinement in Spanish children: A longitudinal analysis from theMUGIproject

Background Home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic could have affected lifestyle behaviours of children, however evidence about it is emerging and yet scarce. Objectives To examine the effects of the COVID-19 confinement on lifestyle behaviours in Spanish children, and to assess the influence of social vulnerabilities on changes in lifestyle behaviours. Methods Physical activity (PA), screen time, sleep time, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (KIDMED) and sociodemographic information were longitudinally assessed before (N = 291, 12.1 +/- 2.4 years, 47.8% girls) and during the COVID-19 confinement (N = 113, 12.0 +/- 2.6 years, 48.7% girls) by online questionnaires. Results During the COVID-19 confinement, PA (-91 +/- 55 min/d,P < .001) and screen time (+/- 2.6 h/d,P < .001) worsened, whereas the KIDMED score improved (0.5 +/- 2.2 points,P < .02). The decrease of PA was higher in children with mother of non-Spanish origin (-1.8 +/- 0.2 vs -1.5 +/- 0.1 h/d,P < .04) or with non-university studies (-1.7 +/- 0.1 vs -1.3 +/- 0.1 h/d,P < .005) in comparison to their counterparts. Conclusion This study evidence the negative impact of the COVID-19 confinement on PA levels and sedentary behaviours of Spanish children. These findings should be taken into account to design and implement public health strategies for preserving children ' s health during and after the pandemic, particularly, in children with social vulnerabilities.