Children whose morning routines started later during COVID-19-related school closures are at a higher risk of falling into unhealthy lifestyle habits during future emergency situations, according to research from Tokyo.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo’s Institute for Future Initiatives and Graduate School of Medicine believe that keeping normal eating and sleeping schedules throughout school closures is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The team conducted a cross-sectional survey of 11,958 elementary and junior high school students from 48 schools and educational organizations across 14 prefectures in June 2020. The findings were based on the responses of 6,220 children between the ages of 8 and 15, whose responses provided the most conclusive information on their dietary habits.