Increase in obesity in children during the pandemic

The proportion of four-year-olds with overweight and obesity is increasing in Sörmland for the second year in a row.

In 2018, the figure was 14 percent, in 2019 it was 15 percent and in 2020 it had increased to 17 percent.

In child health care, all children are measured and weighed.

If a child is overweight or obese, the parents receive support.

- It can be advice about food and how much the child moves.

Then this is followed up closely and often there is a change in the positive direction, says Charlotte Nylander.

"Should support"

Despite the fact that child health care in Sörmland has a program to reduce overweight and obesity, a development has now been seen in the wrong direction.

Charlotte Nylander believes that the pandemic is a contributing factor as many everyday routines have fallen away.

What is being done concretely to reverse the trend?

- We will support activities that meet children and young people and offer educational initiatives during the autumn to work further with the issue, says Charlotte Nylander.

Has child health care done enough and what happens if overweight continues to increase?