Risk of body weight changes among Danish children and adolescents during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Summary Background Knowledge of COVID‐19 and the pandemic's effects on Danish children's body weight is limited. Objective Objectives were to investigate (I) risk of weight changes among Danish children with and without SARS‐CoV‐2, (II) associations between weight changes, psychological symptoms, and long COVID symptoms, and (III) weight distribution pre‐ and post‐pandemic. Methods A national survey was administered to all Danish children aged 0–18 years, with prior COVID‐19 (cases) and matched references including questions on weight, weight changes during the pandemic and long COVID‐related symptoms. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used. Weight distribution was compared with a pre‐pandemic database. Results In all, 17 627 cases and 54 656 references were included. The 4–18‐year‐old cases had lower odds of unintended weight gain. The 2–3‐year‐old cases had higher odds and the 15–18‐year‐old cases lower odds of weight loss compared to references. Regardless of COVID‐19 status, any reported long COVID‐related symptom was associated with a change in body weight. No sign of increasing obesity rates was found among Danish children post‐pandemic. Conclusion COVID‐19 was associated with higher odds of weight loss in 2–3‐year‐olds and lower odds of unintended weight gain in 4–18‐year‐olds. Any long COVID‐related symptom was associated with higher odds of weight changes regardless of COVID‐19 status.