Do Changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) during the COVID-19 Pandemic Persist in the Post-Pandemic Period in a Pediatric Population Attending Health Care Clinics? A Longitudinal Study
Authors' conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic correlated with an overall increase in BMI-SDS, which decreased post-pandemic but remained above pre-pandemic levels. Effective policy interventions to prevent pediatric obesity are crucial.
Study context
- Population
- Children attending health care clinics with ≥1 BMI measurement pre-pandemic, one during and one post-pandemic; 52.1% males, median age 8.2 years at pre-pandemic assessment
- Participants
- 106,871 children
- Exposure
- Pre-pandemic vs during-pandemic vs post-pandemic BMI
- Outcome
- Changes in BMI during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Methodological detailselectronic medical data
- Electronic medical data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Obesity rates
- BMI-SDS increased during the pandemic in both sexes, across all ages and all socioeconomic position (SEP) clusters, and in children with pre-pandemic underweight or normal weight
- all p < 0.001
- After pandemic, BMI-SDS decreased but remained above pre-pandemic levels, particularly in children aged 2-6 years and low/medium SEP clusters
- all p < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
BMI-SDS post-pandemic in subgroups
- BMI-SDS continued to increase in children aged 6.1-16 years, those of Arab ethnicity, and those in the high SEP cluster
Original publication
Do Changes in BMI during the COVID-19 Pandemic Persist in the Post-Pandemic Period in a Pediatric Population Attending Health Care Clinics? A Longitudinal Study. Horm Res Paediatr. Published 28 October 2024. doi:10.
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