July 14, 2025
RED FM News Desk
A new study published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) reveals that nearly one-third of Canadians are now obese, with a significant increase in weight gain occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research found that 32.7 percent of Canadians (10.6 million people) were obese in 2023, an increase of approximately eight percentage points since 2009. Notably, researchers observed a steeper rise in obesity during the pandemic period.
“The pandemic had such a profound impact on our daily lives … including changes in our eating behaviors and access to healthy foods,” said Laura Anderson, lead author of the study and associate professor in health, research methods, evidence, and impact at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.
Obesity is a medical condition that elevates the risk of serious health issues such as stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. With frequent lockdowns forcing people to remain at home during the pandemic, researchers aimed to understand how this affected people’s weight.
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