Kids and the Coronavirus: Unintended Consequences Two Years Later

“So, we have been living in two pandemics, but only one has dominated our public health discussions.”

The World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Two years later, we never could have imagined how long the “slow the spread” mitigation measures would last. Shut-downs and closures from COVID-19 mitigation measures are proving to have unintended, negative consequences in areas such as economics, social and emotional well-being, and preventative health measures for chronic illness.

What many do not realize is that lack of physical activity was identified as a pandemic in 2012. Despite some valiant health promotion attempts, lack of physical activity is still a problem and one of the leading causes of overweight and obesity. So, we have been living in two pandemics, but only one has dominated our public health discussions.

As mitigation measures change and restrictions loosen, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be on its way just to being a “normal” part of life. However, our actions—or inaction—over the past two years have put us at risk of worsening the pandemic of too little exercise.

Lockdowns in schools and other places that provide healthy foods and opportunities for safe physical activity have impacted the trajectory of childhood obesity. Early studies have found that youth obesity prevalence has increased and pandemic measures likely led to weight gain among children and adolescents.