A Double Hit: COVID-19 and Childhood Obesity

Abstract

It is evident that childhood obesity is a significant public health issue that is associated with various health morbidities [1]. Globally speaking, as of 2019, it was estimated that 38.2 million children under the age of 5 years were overweight or obese (World Health Organization, 2020). Additionally, over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016 (World Health Organization, 2020). Adding to this issue are the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s physical activity and nutrition across the world. Childhood obesity and COVID-19 is a “double hit” on adolescents’ health and their learning outcomes, exacerbating the issue of obesity even further.