Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on obesity and diabetes in adults: a longitudinal study of participants of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)

Obesity and diabetes are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Canada and globally. Beyond the direct consequences of COVID-19 on population health, the pandemic and accompanying public health measures have led to unprecedented changes in activities of daily life and socioeconomic hardship. This may have a profound impact on obesity and diabetes among Canadians. A comprehensive understanding of the prevalence of obesity and diabetes from pre- to mid-pandemic and associated risk factors is urgently needed. Further, understanding the potential health equity impacts of the pandemic and identifying high-risk subgroups of Canadians is essential to inform public health interventions and protect those at greatest risk of serious outcomes. We will address these urgent questions using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA), which is uniquely positioned to assess the indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on obesity and diabetes risk among Canadians.