A study involving Imperial researchers reveals a significant spike in child obesity levels during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.
The research found a sharp increase in obesity rates among reception pupils (aged 4-5 years) and year 6 children (aged 10-11) between 2019/20 and 2020/21.
The pandemic-induced changes in eating habits, reduced physical activity, disrupted sleep schedules, and increased screen time contributed to this surge. Although obesity levels in younger children returned to pre-pandemic levels by 2022, older children remained affected, resulting in an additional 56,000 children with obesity. The study estimates additional lifelong healthcare costs of £800 million and a societal cost of £8.7 billion.
The findings emphasise the need for targeted interventions, particularly for under-fives, to address childhood obesity and reduce associated health and economic burdens.