Childhood obesity arises from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors and is linked to continued obesity in later life, with 90% of overweight 3-year-olds remaining so into adolescence. Recognized as a chronic disease, it emphasizes the importance of early detection and prevention.
A study by Uppsala University and collaborators examined the prevalence of overweight among Swedish 4-year-olds in 2018, 2020, and 2022. It found that higher rates of childhood obesity are associated with socioeconomic vulnerabilities, such as single parenthood, lower education, low income, and child poverty. The study suggests that the pandemic may have exacerbated these trends.
Charlotte Nylander, a researcher at Uppsala University and the Centre for Clinical Research in Region Sörmland, where she is also a Senior Consultant in Child Health Care, said, “During and after the pandemic, we see a greater difference between regions in terms of children’s weight. It even looks like it has exacerbated health inequalities.”
The study included about 85% of Swedish four-year-olds from 2018, 2020, and 2022, totaling over 300,000 individuals. Researchers analyzed data on childhood overweight and linked it to socioeconomic variables from Statistics Sweden, excluding the regions of Halland and Örebro due to missing 2022 data.
Results indicate that the prevalence of overweight or obesity among four-year-olds has returned to pre-pandemic levels of 11.4%, down from a peak of 13.3% during the pandemic. However, certain regions, such as Västernorrland, Gävleborg, and Värmland, report significantly higher rates than the national average.
Nylander expressed relief that the prevalence of childhood overweight has returned to pre-pandemic levels, following concerns during the pandemic peak. However, she emphasized that childhood obesity remains a significant issue that requires ongoing attention.
Her team is particularly concerned about the strong association between childhood overweight and socioeconomic disadvantages, noting that regions with higher rates of single parenthood, lower education, low income, and high child poverty showed more overweight children.
Researcher Mariette Derwig, a Senior Consultant in Child Health Care in Region Skåne, said, “Child healthcare is an important public health arena. It is important to highlight socio-economically disadvantaged children in healthcare and provide early advice on lifestyle habits that can help. But we also need to shift responsibility from the individual to society, where major efforts are needed to improve the situation.”
Journal Reference:
- Charlotte Nylander, Paulina Nowicka, Mariette Derwig. The prevalence of overweight among 4-year-olds during and after the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with socioeconomic burden. Acta Paediatrica. DOI: 10.1111/apa.17468
