Children's rates of BMI change during pre‐pandemic and two COVID‐19 pandemic periods, IQVIA Ambulatory Electronic Medical Record, January 2018 Through November 2021
Authors' conclusion
In this large, geographically diverse cohort of US youth, accelerated rates of BMI change observed during 2020 were largely attenuated in 2021. Positive rates indicate continued weight gain rather than loss, albeit at a slower rate. Childhood obesity prevalence remained high, which raises concern about long-term consequences of excess weight and underscores the importance of healthy lifestyle interventions.
Study context
- Population
- US children aged 2 through 19 years with ≥4 BMI measurements, IQVIA ambulatory electronic medical record
- Participants
- 241,600 children
- Exposure
- Pre-pandemic vs early pandemic vs later pandemic periods
- Outcome
- Monthly rate of BMI change (kg/m²)
Methodological detailslongitudinal, mixed-effects models, ambulatory electronic health record data
- Longitudinal
- Mixed-effects models
- Ambulatory electronic health record data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Pre-pandemic
0.056
CI 0.056–0.057 · kilograms per meters squared
Early pandemic
0.104
CI 0.102–0.106 · kilograms per meters squared
Later pandemic
0.035
CI 0.033–0.036 · kilograms per meters squared
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Estimated obesity prevalence · November 2021
- Estimated prevalence of obesity in the cohort
- 22.5%
Original publication
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