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Updated: Oct 28, 2025

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Changes in weight and height among Chinese preschool children during COVID-19 school closures

Juan Wen1, Lijun Zhu1, Chenbo Ji2

  • 1Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Institute, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing, China.

International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|July 16, 2021
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 school closures led to increased childhood obesity in China, with reduced height growth but stable weight. Public health strategies are needed to promote activity and healthy diets in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • COVID-19 pandemic-related school closures raised concerns about childhood obesity.
  • Analysis of weight and height changes in Chinese preschool children during this period was necessary.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze weight and height changes in Chinese preschool children during COVID-19 school closures.
  • To compare these changes with previous years.

Main Methods:

  • Included 124,603 preschool children from kindergartens across multiple Chinese cities.
  • Evaluated prevalence of overweight and obesity.
  • Compared changes in BMI, weight, and height during closures versus the same periods in prior years.

Main Results:

  • Childhood obesity prevalence increased post-closures, while overweight prevalence decreased.
  • Average height increase was approximately 1 cm less during closures compared to previous years.
  • No significant difference in weight change was observed across the compared periods.

Conclusions:

  • Children's height growth was more affected by COVID-19 school closures than weight change.
  • Strategies to boost physical activity, reduce sedentary time, and promote healthy diets are crucial to mitigate adverse effects.
Abstract

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