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The prevalence of overweight among 4-year-olds during and after the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with socioeconomic burden

Nylander, Charlotte ; Nowicka, Paulina LU and Derwig, Mariette LU (2024) In Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
Abstract

Aim: To assess the prevalence of overweight among Swedish 4 year olds in 2018, 2020 and 2022, taking socioeconomic variables into account. Methods: Aggregated regional data on children's body mass index were collected. The socioeconomic Care Need Index (CNI), foreign background, low education, being a single parent, low income and childhood poverty, were assessed. The differences in overweight, including obesity, were tested for Sweden and for regions. Results: Data were available for 303 843 children, representing 87% of children born in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Overweight or obesity were found in 11 177 (11.4%) of children in 2022, decreasing from 2020 (13.3%, p < 0.001) but at the same level as in 2018. Regional low CNI, low level of... (More)

Aim: To assess the prevalence of overweight among Swedish 4 year olds in 2018, 2020 and 2022, taking socioeconomic variables into account. Methods: Aggregated regional data on children's body mass index were collected. The socioeconomic Care Need Index (CNI), foreign background, low education, being a single parent, low income and childhood poverty, were assessed. The differences in overweight, including obesity, were tested for Sweden and for regions. Results: Data were available for 303 843 children, representing 87% of children born in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Overweight or obesity were found in 11 177 (11.4%) of children in 2022, decreasing from 2020 (13.3%, p < 0.001) but at the same level as in 2018. Regional low CNI, low level of foreign background, education and income as well as being a single parent were associated with a higher prevalence of overweight or obesity in all cohorts (p < 0.001). In regions with high levels of childhood poverty, overweight or obesity were more prevalent during (p = 0.009) and after the pandemic (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Three national cohorts demonstrate that the increase in overweight during the COVID-19 pandemic has returned to pre-pandemic levels, but the inequalities in health associated with socioeconomic vulnerability of the regions remained.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
in press
subject
keywords
child health services, obeisty, overweight, prevention, socioeconomy
in
Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:39452522
  • scopus:85207633300
ISSN
0803-5253
DOI
10.1111/apa.17468
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
44454d24-4512-4b3e-97b3-c3d7c9d7c450
date added to LUP
2025-01-13 14:14:35
date last changed
2025-07-01 04:16:33
@article{44454d24-4512-4b3e-97b3-c3d7c9d7c450,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aim: To assess the prevalence of overweight among Swedish 4 year olds in 2018, 2020 and 2022, taking socioeconomic variables into account. Methods: Aggregated regional data on children's body mass index were collected. The socioeconomic Care Need Index (CNI), foreign background, low education, being a single parent, low income and childhood poverty, were assessed. The differences in overweight, including obesity, were tested for Sweden and for regions. Results: Data were available for 303 843 children, representing 87% of children born in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Overweight or obesity were found in 11 177 (11.4%) of children in 2022, decreasing from 2020 (13.3%, p &lt; 0.001) but at the same level as in 2018. Regional low CNI, low level of foreign background, education and income as well as being a single parent were associated with a higher prevalence of overweight or obesity in all cohorts (p &lt; 0.001). In regions with high levels of childhood poverty, overweight or obesity were more prevalent during (p = 0.009) and after the pandemic (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: Three national cohorts demonstrate that the increase in overweight during the COVID-19 pandemic has returned to pre-pandemic levels, but the inequalities in health associated with socioeconomic vulnerability of the regions remained.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nylander, Charlotte and Nowicka, Paulina and Derwig, Mariette}},
  issn         = {{0803-5253}},
  keywords     = {{child health services; obeisty; overweight; prevention; socioeconomy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics}},
  title        = {{The prevalence of overweight among 4-year-olds during and after the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with socioeconomic burden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apa.17468}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/apa.17468}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}