Comparison of Body Mass Index (BMI), before and post COVID-19, across different age groups in the population of Northeast Portugal
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abstract
Over the last few decades, there has been a significant increase in obesity levels,
particularly developed countries. This rise primarily reflects changes in dietary patterns,
the rise of sedentary lifestyles, and socioeconomic factors. The Body Mass Index (BMI)
has been a widely used parameter with the intention of evaluating body fat at any age
(1,2). Although it's not the most rigorous method (3), it has the advantage of being easy
to calculate and having many records available. In Portugal, there has also been an
increase in the prevalence of obesity and overweight in recent years (4). The pandemic
period (COVID-19), which lasted approximately 2 years (2020 and 2021), led to lifestyle
changes for many people, often resulting in a notable decrease in physical activity. How
has this period affected the BMI of these specific population?
