Psychological, Nutritional and Behavioral Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross Sectional Study on Egyptian Children

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is contemplated as the most exceptional global health crisis, becoming a vigorous, powerful destroyer of both health and economy in the 21st century. Although young children are clinically less affected by COVID-19 than adults, they are concomitantly influenced by the pandemic in many aspects. METHODS: This study is an attempt to investigate the negative effects of the lockdown on the psychological, nutritional, physical, as well as the behavioral aspects among Egyptian children and adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a formulated online survey among a total of 672 participant aged 6–18 years. RESULTS: During the lockdown 58.9% of the participants reported increase in their weight, 64.6% of reported decrease in their physical activity, moreover 86.9% reported increased time consumed on the computer/TV/mobile, and 54.7% reported sleeping problems. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 pandemic had a massive influence on children’s health globally, in many aspects whether medical, physical or psychological. All these intimations have to be highlighted and dealt with clearly to avoid both short/long-term sequel.