Change in the prevalence of overweight, obesity and severe obesity in seven-year-old children between 2019–2023 –⁠ project COSI

Czech version

Authors: Tereza Metelcová; Tereza Svobodová; Marie Kunešová ^†; Radka Taxová Braunerová; Markéta Vaňková
Authors‘ workplace: Endokrinologický ústav, Praha
Published in: Čas. Lék. čes. 2025; 164: 247-251
Category: Original Article

Overview

This study is part of the World Health Organization's European initiative to monitor trends in overweight and obesity in children. Children have been monitored every two years using a consistent protocol since 2008. The COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2021) and related restrictions significantly altered daily life, including that of children.

We compared the prevalence of overweight in seven-year-olds from the 5^th monitoring period (Jan–Dec 2019) and the 6^th period (Nov 2022–Mar 2024) to assess the impact of pandemic-related restrictions.

Results showed no significant change in overall overweight or obesity prevalence between the two periods. In the 6^th monitoring, 5.7% of boys and 6% of girls had overweight; 7.5% of boys and 7.3% of girls had obesity. Severe obesity was relatively high (3.8% for both sexes) but not significantly different from 2019. Abdominal obesity, indicated by a risk waist-to-height ratio, was found in 12.9% of boys and 12.2% of girls –⁠ also unchanged from the earlier monitoring.

Overall, two years after lifting COVID-19 restrictions, overweight prevalence in 7-year-olds remained like pre-pandemic levels. However, the persistent prevalence of severe obesity is concerning and highlights the need for continued public health efforts.

Keywords:

obesity – COSI – overweight – prevalence – children – severe obesity

Sources

Rundle AG, Factor-Litvak P, Suglia SF et al. Tracking of obesity in childhood into adulthood: effects on body mass index and fat mass index at age 50. Child Obes 2020; 16 : 226–233.
Kodeš J, Matalová P. Léčebné možnosti dětské hypertenze. Pediatr Praxi 2024; 25 : 166–169.
Smith JD, Fu E, Kobayashi MA. Prevention and management of childhood obesity and its psychological and health comorbidities. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2020; 16 : 351–378.
Ali AT, Al-Ani F, Al-Ani O. Dětská obezita: příčiny, důsledky a prevence. Čes Slov Farm 2023; 72 : 21–36.
Malden S, Gillespie J, Hughes A et al. Obesity in young children and its relationship with diagnosis of asthma, vitamin D deficiency, iron deficiency, specific allergies and flat-footedness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 2021; 22: e13129.
Simmonds M, Llewellyn A, Owen CG et al. Predicting adult obesity from childhood obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 2016; 17 : 95–107.
Llewellyn A, Simmonds M, Owen CG et al. Childhood obesity as a predictor of morbidity in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 2016;17 : 56–67.
Müllerová D. Obezita v ČR a preventivní aktivity. Hygiena 2012; 57 : 154–156.
Marinov Z. Můžeme změnit nešvary ve výživě dětí časného věku? Pediatr Praxi 2015; 16 : 206–208.
Kunešová M, Procházka B, Taxová Braunerová R et al. Prevalence nadváhy a obezity u sedmiletých dětí v ČR (COSI ČR), vztah k rozložení tukové tkáně. Čes-slov Pediat 2019; 74 : 77–80.
Hainer V, Kunešová M, Taxová Braunerová R a kol. Dvě pandemie současnosti: obezita a COVID-19. Prakt Lék 2020; 100 : 159–163.
Rydlová J. Nadváha jako následek covidové izolace. Lázně Luhačovice kombinují léčbu s redukčním režimem. Čes-slov Pediat 2021; 76 : 124.
Pastucha D, Chmelík F, Canibal H a kol. Pohybová aktivita v prevenci a terapii dětské obezity. Čes-slov Pediat 2019; 74 : 102–105.
Vážná A, Vignerová J, Brabec M et al. Influence of COVID-19 –⁠ related restrictions on the prevalence of overweight and obese Czech children. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19 : 11902.
Skolmowska D, Głąbska D, Guzek D. Stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and emotional eating scale adapted for children and adolescents (EES-C) results in girls: Polish Adolescents' COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study. Nutrients 2023; 15 : 4197.
Moreb NA, Albandary A, Jaiswal S et al. Fruits and vegetables in the management of underlying conditions for COVID-19 high-risk groups. Foods 2021; 10 : 389.
Breda J, McColl K, Buoncristiano M et al. Methodology and implementation of the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). Obes Rev 2021; 22 Suppl 6: e13215.
Bláha P, Vignerová J, Riedlová J a kol. 6. celostátní antropologický výzkum dětí a mládeže 2001. SZÚ, Praha, 2005.
De Onis M, Lobstein T. Defining obesity risk status in the general childhood population: which cut-offs should we use? Int J Pediatr Obes 2010; 5 : 458–460.
Spinelli A, Buoncristiano M, Kovacs VA et al. Prevalence of severe obesity among primary school children in 21 European countries. Obes Facts 2019; 12 : 244–258.
Díaz-Rodríguez M, Carretero-Bravo J, Pérez-Muñoz C et al. Lockdown due to COVID-19 in Spanish children up to 6 years: consequences on diet, lifestyle, screen viewing, and sleep. Int J Public Health 2022; 67 : 1604088.
Palermi S, Vecchiato M, Pennella S et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood obesity and lifestyle-a report from Italy. Pediatr Rep 2022; 14 : 410–418.
Basterfield L, Burn NL, Galna B et al. Changes in children’s physical fitness, BMI and health-related quality of life after the first 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in England: a longitudinal study. J Sports Sci 2022; 40 : 1088–1096.
Samigullin A, Groß G, Gählert J et al. Impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on the anthropometric development in primary school children in the Rhein-Neckar Region, Germany. BMC Nutr 2024; 10 : 78.
Tichá Ľ, Regecová V, Šebeková K et al. Prevalence of overweight/obesity among 7-year-old children –⁠ WHO Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative in Slovakia, trends and differences between selected European countries. Eur J Pediatr 2018; 177 : 945–953.
Tichá Ľ, Regecová V, Hamade J et al. Nadhmotnosť a obezita u detí vo veku 7–8 rokov: výsledky projektu WHO na Slovensku. Čes-slov Pediat 2019; 74 : 81–87.
Metelcová T, Zamrazilová H, Procházka B a kol. Změna prevalence nadměrné hmotnosti u českých sedmiletých dětí 2008–2019. Čas Lék Čes 2023; 162 : 203–206.
Brief review of results from round 6 of COSI. WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative, 2024. Dostupné na: www.who.int/europe/publications/m/item/brief-review-of-results-from-round-6-of-cosi-2022-2024
Taxová Braunerová R, Kunešová M, Heinen MM et al. Waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio in 7-year-old children-WHO Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative. Obes Rev 2021; 22 (Suppl. 6): e13208.
Zong X, Kelishadi R, Hong YM et al. Establishing international optimal cut-offs of waist-to-height ratio for predicting cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years. BMC Med 2023; 2 : 442.
Csongová M, Volkovová K, Gajdoš M et al. Gender-associated differences in the prevalence of central obesity using waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio, and that of general obesity, in Slovak adults. Cent Eur J Public Health 2018; 26 : 228–233.
Feng Q, Bešević J, Conroy M et al. Waist-to-height ratio and body fat percentage as risk factors for ischemic cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study from UK Biobank. Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 119 : 1386–1396.
Metelcová T, Zamrazilová H, Procházka B a kol. Distribuce tuku podle obvodu pasu a poměru pas/výška u českých sedmiletých dětí–projekt COSI 2016–2019. Čes-slov Pediat 2023; 78 : 220–223.
Hlavatý P, Zamrazilová H, Dušková L a kol. Projekt COPAT –⁠ současné možnosti léčby obezity v ambulanci praktického lékaře pro děti a dorost. Prakt Lék 2010; 90 : 86–89.

Labels

Addictology Allergology and clinical immunology Angiology Audiology Clinical biochemistry Dermatology & STDs Paediatric gastroenterology Paediatric surgery Paediatric cardiology Paediatric neurology Paediatric ENT Paediatric psychiatry Paediatric rheumatology Diabetology Pharmacy Vascular surgery Pain management Dental Hygienist

Survey of experiences of chronically ill patients with care provided by general practitioners and evaluation of the outcomes of this care

Probiotics in antibiotic treatment – an overview of effectiveness, risks, and recommended practices

Modern possibilities of diagnosis and treatment of Peyronie's disease in the Czech context

What to consider when sharing health information on-line?

Czech Medical Association of J. E. Purkyně honored the best medical publications of 2024

Little-known first autopsies in the Czech lands

Newly discovered documents about J. E. Purkyně at the Anatomical Institute of the 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University

Oldřich Ferdinand, MD – a notable figure of moravian phoniatrics. A remembrance on the 115th anniversary of his birth

His dream became reality. In memory of professor Vladimír Vonka (1930–2025).

Postoperative nausea and vomiting

The tales of new drug discoveries

Přednáškové večery Spolku českých lékařů v Praze (leden – březen 2026)