Obesity rates in Canada jumped during COVID-19, says a new study – CBC

Study finds increasing number of women, young adults became obese

Jul 14, 2025

About one-third of Canadians have become obese — with more weight gain happening during the pandemic, according to a new study.

The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Monday, found that 32.7 per cent of Canadians (10.6 million people) were obese in 2023 — an increase of about eight percentage points since 2009.

But the researchers also saw a steeper increase in obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic had such a profound impact on our daily lives … including changes in our eating behaviours and access to healthy foods,” said Laura Anderson, lead author on the study and associate professor in health, research methods, evidence and impact at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/obesity-canada-covid-19-study-1.7583300