Childhood Obesity Aggravated During COVID-19 Pandemic, WHO Europe Report Finds

In a concerning revelation, a new report by the World Health Organization's (WHO) European branch has established a direct link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a surge in obesity rates among school-aged children. The comprehensive study, conducted across 17 member states of the WHO European Region, paints a worrying picture of the pandemic's impact on children's health and well-being.

The findings confirm long-held suspicions that the pandemic has contributed to a rise in obesity levels among children aged 7 to 9. According to the report, the disruptions caused by COVID-19 led to an increase in screen time and a decrease in physical activity, reflecting a corresponding increase in the number of overweight children within the same age group.

"We cannot afford to ignore these trends. In our region, one in three children is overweight or obese, and fruit and vegetable consumption is already low," said Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe, WHO Europe's Regional Adviser for Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, in a statement.

More Time Spent in Front of Screens
The WHO report revealed that 28% of children experienced a decrease in outdoor activities during weekdays, while 23% saw a reduction in outdoor activities on weekends. Instead, the study found that during the pandemic, 36% of children increased their time spent watching television, playing online games, or using social media on weekdays. On weekends, 34% of children increased their recreational screen time.

Simultaneously, families reported an increase in the consumption of home-cooked meals (30%), family meals (29%), bulk food purchases (28%), and preparing meals with their children (26%).

The COVID-19 pandemic also took an emotional toll on children. One in five children reported feeling sadder more often, and one in four children reported feeling lonelier more often. In total, 42% of children reported a decline in their happiness and well-being.

Nuanced Picture, But Concerning Trends
While the report paints a nuanced picture, with some positive changes observed in certain countries, such as families eating together more often, there are also concerning results, including an increase in unhealthy eating habits and sedentary behavior.

Urgent Need to Combat Childhood Obesity
More broadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need to combat childhood obesity. According to the WHO, countries in the region must prioritize healthy eating and physical activity for children at all stages of their development as they rebuild from the pandemic.

The UN health agency recommends practices such as restrictions on the marketing and taxation of unhealthy products, clear nutritional labeling on foods, and school programs aimed at improving diets and promoting physical activity.

"I hope this report will sound the alarm and spur us to take urgent action to improve nutrition and physical activity habits in the region, including by creating environments conducive to healthy behaviors," urged Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe.

The WHO Europe conducted this research with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition and Childhood Obesity at the Dr. Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute in Lisbon, Portugal. It was carried out in 17 of the 53 member states in the region between 2021 and 2023, with over 50,000 children participating in this comprehensive survey.