A CDC study of 432,302 US children aged 2 to 19 found that the rate of weight gain doubled during Covid-19 restrictions. That happened as schools and childcare closed and activity dropped. Obesity in that age group rose from 19.3% in August 2019 to 22.4% in August 2020.
Summary: Obesity in children and young adults has risen in the US and around the world. It will have long-term effects, like more diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), and other related disorders. This trend has been going on for the last few decades. Even worse, a new CDC study indicates that covid-19 doubled the rate of weight gain in children. Weight gain has been highest among children aged 5 to 11 years. And these changes happened in a very short time. If we do not act to reduce obesity in children, the effects will last. They will be felt even decades after the pandemic is over.
Keywords: obesity in children, weight gain, covid-19 pandemic
Non-communicable diseases (ones you cannot catch from others), like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and lung disorders, are a huge burden on US health care. Early studies show that these health problems are rooted in poor lifestyle choices in childhood. Right now, close to 20% of children in the US live with obesity1.
But that is not all. Data clearly shows that even before the covid-19 epidemic, obesity kept rising among children aged 2 to 19 years2. Obesity harms both the body and the mind of a child. Diseases like diabetes or heart disease show up much later in life. But the mental health problems tied to obesity start much earlier3.
In 2020, the covid-19 pandemic changed how young and old lived. It brought many restrictions. Children went out less often and were less active. They also took in more calories. Use of gadgets and video games also rose a lot.
One of the largest studies came from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It points to a sharp rise in obesity among children. According to the report, the rate of weight gain doubled in less than nine months4.
How did Covid-19 affect weight gain in children?
The study used the medical records of 432,302 children aged 2 to 19 years. It looked at how the pandemic affected their body weight, or BMI. BMI is a more accurate way to measure obesity, because it shows weight relative to height.
The study found that almost all children gained weight, except a small number who were underweight. It also found that weight gain was greater in younger children. So preschool and school-aged children were hit harder than teens.
It is clear why these younger children were hit harder than teens. It appears to be the result of closed childcare centers and schools. Because of that, most children got little physical activity at home.
And they spent more time in front of screens.
Some of the data is truly alarming, like a 5.3 times increase in the proportion of weight gain. So obesity in ages 2-19 rose from 19.3% in August 2019 to 22.4% in August 2020. Note that this sharp rise happened in just about six months of the pandemic. The study found the rate of weight gain was 6.1 and 7.6 pounds, compared to 2.7 pounds in children with a healthy weight. It also found the biggest increase in body weight among children aged 6-11. Their weight changed 2.5 times faster than the pre-pandemic rate4.
These findings should alarm all caregivers. This much weight gain may have severe long-term health effects. It may cause a large rise in type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and depression in this group. The impact of this pandemic will be felt for decades.
How can parents help children reverse pandemic weight gain?
So most professional groups call for raising awareness. There are many ways this weight gain can be countered. It is vital to get children to exercise more, spend more time in the sun, and start moving.
It may also mean changing the diet. That can mean cutting total calories, snacking less often, or switching to healthy snacks. It is also vital to shrink portion sizes. Limiting processed foods is an absolute must.
Finally, limiting screen time may also help. So many children these days are tied to gadgets and screens. So we need to limit the time children spend watching TV and playing on gaming consoles.
Frequently asked questions
Did children gain weight during Covid-19?
Yes. A CDC study used medical records from 432,302 US children aged 2 to 19. It found that the rate of weight gain doubled during Covid-19 restrictions. Obesity in that age group rose from 19.3% in August 2019 to 22.4% in August 2020. Almost every child gained weight, except a small number who were underweight.
Why did younger children gain the most weight during the pandemic?
Preschool and school-aged children gained more than teens. With childcare centers and schools closed, most young children got little physical activity at home. They also spent more time in front of screens. The CDC study found the biggest increase among children aged 6 to 11. Their weight changed 2.5 times faster than before the pandemic.
Can pandemic weight gain cause long-term health problems in children?
Yes. Weight gained in childhood lays the groundwork for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and depression later in life. The mental health effects of obesity start much earlier than the physical diseases. Unless we act to reduce childhood obesity, the effects of those few months will be felt decades after the pandemic is over.
How can I help my child lose the weight?
Start with movement and food. Get your child exercising, outdoors in the sun and moving every day. Cut out processed foods, reduce portion sizes and total calories, snack less often or switch to healthy snacks, and set firm limits on TV, gaming consoles and other screens.
Related reading
References
1. Childhood Obesity Facts | Overweight & Obesity | CDC. Published April 5, 2021. Accessed October 8, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
2. Skinner AC, Ravanbakht SN, Skelton JA, Perrin EM, Armstrong SC. Prevalence of Obesity and Severe Obesity in US Children, 1999–2016. Pediatrics. 2018;141(3). doi:10.1542/peds.2017-3459
3. G V, Mr L, M M, et al. [Health consequences of obesity in children and adolescents]. Minerva Pediatr. 2014;66(5):381-414.
4. Lange SJ. Longitudinal Trends in Body Mass Index Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Persons Aged 2–19 Years — the United States, 2018–2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7037a3
Medically reviewed by Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP
Interventional pain physician, addiction medicine specialist and obesity medicine diplomate.
Licensed in Missouri and Illinois.
Last reviewed June 17, 2026
