The lockdowns meant to curb the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) have brought about another pandemic in childhood obesity, says a new study. In their report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, scientists from the U.S. said that children gained significantly more weight… Childhood obesity rates also spiked after lockdowns were implemented.
“This increased weight gain occurred in all youth between 5 and 17 years, but was particularly evident in children ages 5 to 11 — an excess weight gain of over 5 pounds,” explained Deborah Young, a behavioral researcher at Kaiser Permanente and a co-author of the report.
“During economic shutdowns like what we had in 2020, there needs to be continued opportunities for youth to be physically active and to enjoy healthful eating options.” Read more…
