According to research released Thursday in the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s bulletin on incidence and death, the rate of body mass change in children almost quadrupled between March to November 2020 when compared to BMI increase before the Covid-19 epidemic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) team utilized a medical record database to examine BMI variations in 432,302 American kids between the ages of 2 and 19 before and after the epidemic. The body mass index (BMI) is a metric that tracks changes in weight in relation to height by combining data on height and weight.
According Research, The Rate Of BMI Rise In Children Almost Doubled During The Pandemic
The research showed that, with the exception of children who were malnourished, all of the kids in the sample had a statistically significant increase in their rates of BMI change throughout the pandemic. The rise was particularly noticeable in smaller kids and those who were overweight.
According to the study’s lead author Samantha Lange, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s population health and health care team, “preschool as well as school-aged children, especially those with overweight, had larger disease outbreak increases in BMI than adolescents.”
A contributing factor to this may be the shutdown of numerous child care facilities and primary schools as a result of the epidemic, which, according to the study, decreased access to better food options and structured exercise programs.
The study shows that the rate of change in overweight children increased by 5.3 times during the outbreak, which may result in substantial weight gain in the future. According to the CDC‘s team of researchers, during the eight-month period of study, children with “mild to severe obesity” gained an average of 1.0 and 1.2 lbs (0.45 and 0.54 kg) each month.
According to the authors, the research is the “biggest and first geographically varied examination” of the effect of the pandemic on BMI, as well as the “first to display outcomes by starting BMI category,” among other things. “Improved access to initiatives that encourage healthy behaviors,” according to the study’s authors, including BMI testing and concerted state and federal efforts to “enable good eating and physical activity,” are among the recommendations.
There are evidence-based strategies that parents may use to assist their children in dealing with their epidemic excess weight (and their own). Get your body moving. Going outside and breathing in the fresh air benefits people of all ages. Sunlight, as well as a vigorous walk, which is also beneficial for your heart, may help you sleep better.
There are a variety of planned family activities and games that you may participate in, even if it’s just sketching on the sidewalk for fun on the weekends. Take a look at the list of 100 things you could do with your kids (or without them) to get some inspiration for activities.
Make sure to stock your pantry with nutritious items. Children imitate their parents’ actions, so set an example. Take your kid grocery shopping and encourage him or her to choose nutritious foods. Make a conscious effort to limit the quantity of packaged foods you take into the home.