A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) has shown obesity rates rapidly increased among Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic, with young adults and females disproportionately affected.The study, led by Dr. Laura Anderson, an associate professor at McMaster University’s Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, and co-authors Rabiul Islam, PhD, and Arthur Sweetman, PhD, highlights how pandemic-related disruptions to daily life accelerated a pre-existing trend of increasing obesity.Data analyzed from 746,250 adults aged 18 and older through the Canadian Community Health Surveys (2009–2023) found that obesity rates, defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (or ≥27.5 for those of Asian descent), rose from 24.95% in 2009 to 32.69% in 2023.This represents an absolute increase of nearly 8% over 15 years..Canadian medical journal says one-fifth of Canadians experience energy poverty .During the pandemic period (April 2020 to December 2023), the annual increase in obesity was approximately 1 percentage point, nearly double the pre-pandemic rate of 0.44 percentage points per year (95% CI 0.14–0.74).Obesity, a known risk factor for numerous diseases, places a significant burden on Canada’s healthcare system and impacts individual health and well-being.The adjusted annual odds of obesity also rose by 1.02 times faster post-pandemic (95% CI 1.01–1.04).The researchers noted a troubling shift toward more severe obesity – Class II and III – increasing at a faster rate than Class I.“We observed important subgroup differences, with several groups that had a lower historical prevalence of obesity showing a substantial increase during the pandemic,” Dr. Anderson and her co-authors noted, calling for targeted research and policy interventions to address these trends..Study finds COVID vaccines were 'useless' in reducing all-cause mortality in USA.Young adults and females saw particularly sharp rises in Class III obesity, with females experiencing a 9% increase in obesity prevalence compared to a 7% increase for males, narrowing the gender gap.Recorded obesity rates were highest among White and Black populations.Anderson attributes the surge to “unprecedented and rapid changes” in daily life during the pandemic, including “increased sedentary behaviour, reduced physical activity, poorer diets, food insecurity, heightened stress, mental health challenges, job losses, and rising costs of living.”The study said: “Compared with the 11 years before the pandemic, the prevalence of obesity increased at a greater rate during the four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that public health restrictions may have adversely affected obesity prevalence in Canada.”A slight increase in underweight adults was also observed, raising concerns about the unintended effects of weight control messaging on individuals with eating disorders.The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
