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full screen Screen time increased and physical activity decreased among children during the pandemic. Archive image. Photo: Janerik Henriksson/TT
The suspicions have existed for a long time and have now been confirmed.
There is a direct link between the covid-19 pandemic and an increased proportion of children with obesity, shows a research report from the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe.
The pandemic led to more screen time and less physical activity among children aged 7–9, reflecting an increase in childhood obesity.
During the pandemic, 36 percent of children increased their screen time during weekdays and 28 percent of children spent less time outdoors.
Mental well-being was also affected during the pandemic: 42 percent of children reported a decline in happiness and well-being. One in five said they felt sad more often – and one in four felt lonely more often.
“The report paints a nuanced picture. In some countries there were positive changes, such as more families eating together. But there are also worrying findings, including an increase in unhealthy eating habits and sedentary behavior,” says Kremlin Wickramasinghe, WHO Europe’s regional advisor for nutrition, physical activity and obesity in a press release.
The study was conducted during 2021–2023 and covers 17 of the 53 member states of the European Union. Over 50,000 children participated in the study.