Changes in BMI During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Experts hypothesized increased weight gain in children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if the rate of change in child body mass index (BMI) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to prepandemic years.
• To identify risk factors for increased BMI gain during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 1996 children (ages 2-19) across 38 US pediatric cohorts.
• Employed linear mixed models to analyze BMI change, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors.
• Included children with at least one BMI measure before and during the pandemic.

Main Results:

• Annual BMI gain was significantly higher during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years (0.24 higher annual gain).
• Children with BMIs in the obese range were at higher risk for excess BMI gain.
• Children from higher-income households showed a decreased risk of BMI gain.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased annual BMI gain among US children.
• This trend poses a significant threat to public health and health equity.
• Targeted interventions may be needed to mitigate pandemic-related weight gain in vulnerable pediatric populations.