The Covid-19 infection began to spread in 2019, and since then, children have been deeply affected by lockdowns, restrictions, online school, and lack of physical exercise. Many children and adolescents gained weight due to school disruption and closure, stress and anxiety, and the lack of physical activity and nutritious food.
CDC studied the BMI of children before and after the pandemic
A recent CDC study measured the BMI trends in children before and after the pandemic, from 2018 to 2020. Experts used data from more than 432,302 children ages 2 to 19 and found their BMIs’ almost doubled during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The BMI increased significantly in children who already suffered from obesity, and the study detected that pre-schoolers BMIs’ were more affected than those of adolescents. For many children in the U.S and worldwide, a school is a place where they can eat nutritious food and exercise regularly. The SARS-CoV-2 virus caused many school closures, and children were left at home, where they did not engage in much physical activity and ate less healthy foods. According to the study, children with moderate or severe obesity accumulated between 0.45 to 0.54 kg per month during the pandemic.
Recommendations and conclusions
The study’s authors pinpointed the need for healthy eating habits in children and the benefits of physical activities. These two can contribute to reducing obesity and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Families can make sure they engage in outdoor activities with their children, such as hiking or walks in the park. A house with many healthy food options will help children make the right choices in terms of food. Portion sizes are crucial, and by limiting processed foods, one can make sure children eat more veggies and home-cooked meals.