Body Mass Index Increased at a Large Midwestern Children's Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic imposed significant lifestyle changes on children, including school closures and reduced physical activity.
• These changes may have contributed to increased rates of childhood overweight and obesity.
• Understanding the pandemic's impact on pediatric weight status is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze changes in body mass index (BMI) among children over a decade, including the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To determine the prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity in pediatric populations before and during the pandemic.
• To assess the impact of pandemic-related restrictions on pediatric weight status.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective observational study utilizing electronic medical records from a large children's hospital.
• Analysis included over 2.3 million encounters for children aged 19 and under with recorded height and weight.
• Data from 2018-2021 were specifically examined to evaluate pandemic-era changes.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of overweight/obesity gradually increased from 35% to 36.4% between 2011 and 2020.
• During the 2020-2021 pandemic year, overweight/obesity prevalence rose sharply to 39.7% (an 8.3% increase).
• A significant increase in BMI percentile was observed during the pandemic year compared to the prior two years (p < 0.0001), with the largest rise in Class 3 obesity.

Conclusions:

• Children treated at a major children's hospital experienced a notable increase in overweight and obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate pandemic-induced weight gain in children.
• Addressing childhood obesity is critical, given its association with adverse outcomes, including those related to COVID-19.