Pediatricians warn that the long-term disruption of personal education, sports and other activities from the coronavirus pandemic is leading to weight gain that can have long-lasting effects on children’s health.
Students snack more and exercise less, and nutritionists and doctors who study obesity are concerned that the pandemic puts children at greater risk for type 2 diabetes and asthma, among other health problems.
“We see a lot of elementary school kids gaining 20 to 30 pounds in a year,” said Hai Cao, a pediatrician and owner of South Slope Pediatrics in Brooklyn, NY.
Brittany Wilson, a physician assistant at Island Kids Pediatrics in Staten Island, NY, said the pandemic appears to have accelerated weight gain in patients who were already overweight. Children aged 6 to 12 seem to gain the most.
“Even high school kids get depressed,” said Ms. Wilson. ‘They miss their friends. Many of them are not doing very well academically. With depression comes weight gain. They are bored and I think they are comforting. “