While just over 5% of secondary school students in Luxembourg were overweight in the 2018/19 school year, this figure has risen to 12% for the 2021/22 school year.
These figures were provided by Minister of Health Paulette Lenert and Minister of Sport Georges Engel in response to a parliamentary question by the Christian Social People's Party (CSV).
The number of overweight students increased from 4.62% in 2018/19 to 4.77% among children aged 4 to 12, who were examined by the school medical service during the school year 2021/22.
Studies in the US and the UK found that obesity rates among children increased during the pandemic. Since a general study also confirmed such a trend, the Minister assumes that this is also the case in Luxembourg.
However, Lenert stressed that the Ministry does not yet have the necessary data to prove this trend.
A European survey showed that during the pandemic, 42% of the population in Luxembourg (adults and children) practised less sport than before. 13% stopped exercising altogether during this period. On the other hand, 30% did as much sport during the health crisis as before and 14% even did more sport than before the pandemic.
