JAMA Network Open · 6 authors, 4 centres
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This cohort study analyzed electronic health records to see if BMI changes in youths during the COVID-19 pandemic persisted after restrictions ended. It found that the prevalence of severe obesity among children was higher in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019.
This cohort study used electronic health record data from Monroe County, Indiana, to evaluate trends in body mass index (BMI) categories among youths aged 2-19 years from 2016 to 2021, focusing on changes during and after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The study analyzed repeated cross-sections and longitudinal cohorts. The central result was a significant increase in the adjusted prevalence of severe obesity in 2020 (5.9%) and 2021 (6.3%) compared to 2019 (5.1%). Longitudinal analysis for this age group showed a greater upward BMI transition in the 2019-2021 cohort. Factors associated with higher odds of severe obesity included female sex, public insurance, and residence in a specific high-income area. Limitations include potential selection bias and limited generalizability from a single US county.
