Work

Plant-Based Family Food Packages and Weight Change in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: What is already known on this topic?The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic along with social needs, including food insecurity.What is added by this report?We examined changes in body mass index (BMI) among children in households that received weekly plant-based family food packages during the pandemic from the Massachusetts General Hospital Revere Food Pantry.We observed that increasing receipt of food packages was associated with a decrease in BMI among 35 children aged 2 to 18 years.What are the implications for public health practice?Our results suggest that providing healthy plant-based food packages might mitigate or reverse increases in BMI among children requiring food assistance.

Source: Preventing Chronic Disease

DOI: 10.5888/pcd20.220336