TY - JOUR
T1 - Bored, afraid, alone
T2 - What can we learn from children with paediatric obesity about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for future pandemics, care practices and policies?
AU - Concincion, Siegnella
AU - van Houtum, Lieke
AU - Verhoeff, Arnoud
AU - Dedding, Christine
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/3/23
Y1 - 2024/3/23
N2 - Purpose: The aim of this study was to gain insight into the perspectives of children with paediatric obesity themselves, during the pandemic and afterwards, regarding their wellbeing and health, and to solicit their advice on tailoring obesity care to match their daily realities. Design and methods: We used a ‘draw, write and tell’ interview technique, conducted walk-alongs, participant observations and a group session with children with paediatric obesity from seldom-heard communities in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Children reported that during lockdowns they were confined to the house, causing them to feel bored and alone. This triggered them to fall into previous unhealthy patterns, such as an increase in sitting on the couch or lying in bed, gaming or watching TV, feeling hungry a lot and eating more. Some children experienced major events, such as mourning the death of a loved one or taking care of other family members, and thus felt they had to grow up fast. Conclusion: Our study adds to our understanding of the mechanisms of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspectives of children with paediatric obesity from seldom-heard communities and emphasizes the importance of considering how the pandemic (and related measures) affected the daily – as well as future – lives of children in vulnerable circumstances. Practical implications: The recommendations children gave could be explored as pathways for more child-centred, successful and tailored obesity care practices and policies in order to support their (mental) wellbeing and health.
AB - Purpose: The aim of this study was to gain insight into the perspectives of children with paediatric obesity themselves, during the pandemic and afterwards, regarding their wellbeing and health, and to solicit their advice on tailoring obesity care to match their daily realities. Design and methods: We used a ‘draw, write and tell’ interview technique, conducted walk-alongs, participant observations and a group session with children with paediatric obesity from seldom-heard communities in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Children reported that during lockdowns they were confined to the house, causing them to feel bored and alone. This triggered them to fall into previous unhealthy patterns, such as an increase in sitting on the couch or lying in bed, gaming or watching TV, feeling hungry a lot and eating more. Some children experienced major events, such as mourning the death of a loved one or taking care of other family members, and thus felt they had to grow up fast. Conclusion: Our study adds to our understanding of the mechanisms of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspectives of children with paediatric obesity from seldom-heard communities and emphasizes the importance of considering how the pandemic (and related measures) affected the daily – as well as future – lives of children in vulnerable circumstances. Practical implications: The recommendations children gave could be explored as pathways for more child-centred, successful and tailored obesity care practices and policies in order to support their (mental) wellbeing and health.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Children
KW - Paediatric obesity
KW - Participatory action research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85188664600&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pedn.2024.03.025
DO - 10.1016/j.pedn.2024.03.025
M3 - Article
C2 - 38522210
SN - 0882-5963
VL - 77
SP - 162
EP - 171
JO - Journal of pediatric nursing
JF - Journal of pediatric nursing
ER -