Impacts of COVID-19 on childhood malnutrition and nutrition-related mortality

Headey, Derek; Heidkamp, Rebecca; Osendarp, Saskia; Ruel, Marie T.; Scott, Nick; Black, Robert E.; Shekar, Meera; Bouis, Howarth E.; Flory, Augustin; Haddad, Lawrence; Walker, Neff

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)31647-0

Cited by 360 publications

(321 citation statements)

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“…Even though the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children has yet to be fully measured, the first available data and estimates from international organizations give us some clues as to how this crisis could affect the nutrition and lifestyle of children. Overall, there are concerns about a risk of increased pediatric obesity mainly in middle- and high-income countries with risk of a shift towards an “obesity pandemic” while undernutrition is expected to deepen in poor countries threatening to put years of global progress to end preventable child deaths in serious jeopardy [ 4 ]. In fact, in low-income countries where underweight and overweight coexist, undernutrition is expected to increase by an additional 6.7 million children in 2020 especially in regions already affected by humanitarian crisis, adding to the 47 million children under 5 already suffering from wasting, and the 144 million children affected by stunting mostly in Asia and Africa [ 4 ].…”

Section: Potential Consequences On Children and Required Actionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Overall, there are concerns about a risk of increased pediatric obesity mainly in middle- and high-income countries with risk of a shift towards an “obesity pandemic” while undernutrition is expected to deepen in poor countries threatening to put years of global progress to end preventable child deaths in serious jeopardy [ 4 ]. In fact, in low-income countries where underweight and overweight coexist, undernutrition is expected to increase by an additional 6.7 million children in 2020 especially in regions already affected by humanitarian crisis, adding to the 47 million children under 5 already suffering from wasting, and the 144 million children affected by stunting mostly in Asia and Africa [ 4 ]. More than 10 000 additional child deaths per month are expected during this period [ 3 ].…”

Section: Potential Consequences On Children and Required Actionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nutrition is intrinsically linked to the immune system and to disease susceptibility. Poor diets cause huge costs in health and human lives [ 5 ]; while wasted children are at increased risk of death from infectious diseases [ 4 ], non-communicable diseases linked to obesity place a heavy burden on public health [ 8 ].…”

Section: Potential Consequences On Children and Required Actionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A hidden side of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: the double burden of undernutrition and overnutrition

Zemrani

Gehri

Masserey³

et al. 2021

Int J Equity Health

116

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The COVID-19 pandemic has deteriorated key determinants of health and caused major upheavals around the world. Children, although less directly affected by the virus, are paying a heavy price through the indirect effects of the crisis, including poor diet, mental health impact, social isolation, addiction to screens and lack of schooling and health care, particularly among vulnerable groups. This paper is aimed at discussing the potential impact of this pandemic on children’s nutrition and lifestyle. Preliminary data from the literature and from our survey show significant disruptions in nutrition and lifestyle habits of children. While undernutrition is expected to worsen in poor countries, obesity rates could increase in middle- and high-income countries especially among precarious groups widening the gap in health and social inequalities.The real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children extends well beyond that of a viral infection. This crisis has public health implications that could have life-long consequences on children. It requires effective and targeted measures mainly for vulnerable children and households to guarantee children’s basic rights for optimal nutrition, health and development.

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Section: Potential Consequences On Children and Required Actionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Potential Consequences On Children and Required Actionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Potential Consequences On Children and Required Actionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A hidden side of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: the double burden of undernutrition and overnutrition

Zemrani

Gehri

Masserey³

et al. 2021

Int J Equity Health

116

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Children are usually worst-affected when there is a reduction in household income and food insecurity, which are anticipated consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic (29). Indeed, Headey and colleagues estimate a nearly 15% increase (~6.7 million cases) in the prevalence of moderate or severe wasting, and nearly 130,000 additional deaths among CU5 in low-and middle-income countries in 2020 due to COVID-19-related economic losses (30). SSA contributes 22% and 52% to the wasting and death estimates, respectively (30).…”

Section: [Figure 1: Outbreaks Concurrent With the Covid-19 Pandemic Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Things must not fall apart: the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children in sub-Saharan Africa

et al. 2020

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Children aged 0–19 years in sub-Saharan Africa bear a disproportionate proportion of the global burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Significant public health gains have been made in the fight against these diseases. However, factors such as underequipped health systems, disease outbreaks, and conflict and political instability continue to challenge prevention and control. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) introduces new challenges to public health programs in sub-Saharan Africa. Of particular concern are programs targeting major conditions among children, such as undernutrition, vaccine-preventable pneumonia and diarrhea, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and sickle cell disease. This article focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child health in sub-Saharan Africa. We review the epidemiology of major pediatric diseases and, referencing modeling projections, discuss the short- and long-term impact of the pandemic on major disease control. We deliberate on potential complications of SARS-CoV-2 co-infections/co-morbidities and identify critical social and ethical issues. Furthermore, we highlight the paucity of COVID-19 data and clinical trials in this region and the lack of child participants in ongoing studies. Lastly, approaches and interventions to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on child health outcomes are discussed. Impact Children in sub-Saharan Africa bear a disproportionate burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases globally; this remains true even as the COVID-19 pandemic persists.Amidst the fast-expanding COVID-19 literature, there is little comprehensive coverage of the pandemic’s indirect impact on child health in sub-Saharan Africa.This article comprehensively outlines the threat that the pandemic poses to major disease prevention and control for children in sub-Saharan Africa. It discusses the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 co-infections/co-morbidities, highlights research gaps, and advocates for data and action to mitigate the ripple effects of the pandemic on this population.

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“…1 The Standing Together for Nutrition Consortium analysis indicates that COVID-19 lockdown measures and accompanying disruptions in essential nutrition services in low- and middle-income countries could increase the prevalence of wasting in children younger than 5 years by 14.3%, equivalent to an additional 6.7 million children wasted in 2020. 2 Moreover, obesity and diabetes are among the largest risk factors for illness and death from COVID-19.…”

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confidence: 99%

Editorial

Lartey

Branca

2020

Food Nutr Bull

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This year marks the midterm of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016-2025 and the start of the Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The world is off track for achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets, with the COVID-19 pandemic further disrupting implementation of action toward achieving the SDGs. The pandemic is affecting the world's poorest and most vulnerable people the most, exposing harsh and profound inequalities in our societies and further exacerbating existing disparities within and among countries.Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was not on track to achieve the global nutrition targets, including those on child stunting, wasting, and overweight by 2030. 1 Almost 690 million people were undernourished in 2019, up by nearly 60 million from 2014, and an estimated 2 billion people in the world did not have regular access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food. At the same time, 2 billion adults were overweight in 2016, with adult obesity rates rising in all regions. Preliminary projections suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may add an additional 83 to 132 million people to the ranks of the undernourished in 2020. 1 The Standing Together for Nutrition Consortium analysis indicates that COVID-19 lockdown measures and accompanying disruptions in essential nutrition services in low-and middle-income countries could increase the prevalence of wasting in children younger than 5 years by 14.3%, equivalent to an additional 6.7 million children wasted in 2020. 2 Moreover, obesity and diabetes are among the largest risk factors for illness and death from COVID-19.A key reason why millions of people around the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition in all its forms is because they cannot afford healthy diets, especially the poor in every region of the

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Impacts of COVID-19 on childhood malnutrition and nutrition-related mortality

Cited by 360 publications

References 6 publications

A hidden side of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: the double burden of undernutrition and overnutrition

A hidden side of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: the double burden of undernutrition and overnutrition

Things must not fall apart: the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children in sub-Saharan Africa

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