A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) reveals that approximately one-third of Canadians were obese in 2023, an increase of about eight percentage points since 2009. The research highlights a steeper increase in obesity rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among women and young adults.
Obesity rates in Canada jumped during COVID-19, says a new study
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) reveals that approximately one-third of Canadians were obese in 2023, an increase of about eight percentage points since 2009. The research highlights a steeper increase in obesity rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among women and young adults.
Trending- 1 2009: Canada's obesity rate was 24.7%
- 2 COVID-19 pandemic: Annual increase in obesity rate doubles from 0.5 to 1 percentage point
- 3 2023: 32.7% of Canadians are obese, nearly 5% are severely obese
- 4 2024: Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy approved (implied 'last year' from 2025 article)
- 5 Monday (July 14, 2025): Study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ)
- Higher risk of serious health issues such as stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer for obese individuals
- Increased prevalence of severe obesity, leading to more complications
- Mental health issues like isolation and depression potentially contributing to weight gain during the pandemic
- Difficulty for individuals to lose weight once gained
What: A study found that 32.7% of Canadians (10.6 million people) were obese in 2023, an increase of about eight percentage points since 2009. The rate of increase doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the greatest rise seen in young adults (18-39 years old) and an increasing number of women becoming severely obese.
When: Study published Monday (implied July 14, 2025); data collected between 2009 and 2023; steeper increase observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where: Canada, specifically mentioning Hamilton, Ontario, and Toronto.
Why: To understand the trends in obesity rates in Canada and investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic, with its associated lockdowns and changes in daily life, eating behaviors, and mental health, impacted these rates.
How: Researchers analyzed self-reported Body Mass Index (BMI) data from 746,250 Canadians aged 18 or older between 2009 and 2023, using the World Health Organization's definition of obesity (BMI equal to or higher than 30).