Child Obesity Soars in Lockdown

The number of children who had to be treated for obesity in hospital has soared sharply since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The main reason is that children spend all their time at home and do nothing but eat.

According to the National Health Insurance Corporation, 1,283 children under nine and 2,005 older children and teenagers received obesity treatment in the first half of this year, up 82 percent and 83 percent from the same period two years ago.

Obesity cases among boys under nine and older boys rose 127 percent and 95 percent, compared to girls with 49 percent and 61 percent.

Some 2,002 people in their 20s and 3,544 people in their 30s also had to get obesity treatment during the same period, up eight percent and 2.3 percent.