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A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Gothenburg and Uppsala University has revealed a decrease in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 3- and 4-year-olds in Sweden following the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, suggest that the increase observed during the pandemic was temporary.
The study, which analyzed data on 50,833 children aged 3-5 years, drew from healthcare records collected during regular check-ups at pediatric healthcare centers in the regions of Dalarna, Jönköping County, and Sörmland.
Previous research had indicated a rise in overweight and obesity among 3- and 4-year-olds in Sweden during the pandemic. However, the current study indicates that today’s 3- and 4-year-olds are now at similar weight levels as their counterparts before the pandemic, while the group of 5-year-olds did not exhibit similar weight changes.
The study examined four distinct time periods: before the COVID-19 pandemic (up to and including April 2020), early pandemic (May 2020-May 2021), late pandemic (June 2021-March 2022), and post-pandemic (from April 2022).
The data revealed fluctuations in body mass index (BMI) among 3- and 4-year-olds over the different time periods. In the group of 3-year-olds, the proportion of obesity increased during the early pandemic before decreasing during the late pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Similarly, the prevalence of overweight children followed a similar pattern.
Among 4-year-olds, the obesity rate and proportion of overweight children also changed significantly, with both indicators increasing during the early pandemic before declining in subsequent periods.
The researchers attribute the weight gains observed during the pandemic to changes in dietary habits and reduced physical activity resulting from social restrictions and closed preschools. However, despite preschools remaining open in Sweden, weight trends mirrored those in other countries, suggesting that many children missed out on nutritious food and regular outdoor activity.
The study’s lead researchers, Anton Holmgren and Anna Fäldt, emphasize the importance of the findings, noting that childhood obesity is associated with numerous health risks in adulthood. Holmgren underscores the significance of the decrease in overweight and obese children, indicating that unhealthy weight status can be reversed, both at the population and individual levels.
The study offers hope for addressing childhood obesity and underscores the importance of continued efforts to promote healthy habits among young children.
