{
  "abstract": "Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected physical activity and lifestyle, potentially increasing Body Mass Index (BMI) and obesity risk. We examined changes in BMI and obesity across Pre-Pandemic, Pandemic Peak, and Peri-Pandemic periods and identified sociodemographic correlates. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal electronic health record data from the All of Us Research Program for adults ≥18 years with at least one BMI record in each period (N = 38,632). Periods were defined as Pre-Pandemic (Jan 1, 2018–Mar 12, 2020), Pandemic Peak (Mar 13, 2020–Dec 31, 2021), and Peri-Pandemic (Jan 1, 2022–Oct 31, 2023). BMI was modeled using linear mixed-effects models and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) using GEE logit models, adjusting for age, sex, race, ethnicity, income, and employment. A sensitivity analysis was conducted by expanding eligibility to participants with BMI data in at least two periods (N = 83,698). Results: Mean BMI increased from 30.05 (SD = 6.67) Pre-Pandemic to 30.14 (SD = 6.76) during the Pandemic Peak, then declined to 29.96 (SD = 6.66) Peri-Pandemic; obesity prevalence followed a similar pattern (43.1% → 43.4% → 42.8%). In adjusted models, the linear time effects were positive and the quadratic terms negative for both outcomes (BMI: β = 0.218 and −0.018; obesity: aORs = 1.053 and 0.996; all p < 0.001). Female, Black/African American, and Hispanic/Latino participants had higher adjusted BMI and greater odds of obesity than their respective reference groups, while higher income was associated with lower BMI and obesity odds. Significant time × subgroup interactions were observed, with age and employment status showing the most consistent effects across both outcomes. Conclusion: BMI and obesity displayed statistically detectable but modest changes across the pandemic-defined periods. Persistent adjusted differences by sex, race, ethnicity, and income highlight the relevance of equitable access to obesity-prevention resources.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States of America",
    "South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States of America",
    "Geoinformation and Big Data Research Lab, Department of Geography, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Abdul-Hanan Saani Inusah"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Huiyi Xia"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Atena Pasha",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5603-4961"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Zhenlong Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Andrew T. Kaczynski"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Xiaoming Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Shan Qiao",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1834-1834"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0mkphvt7wdd80.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0360745",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13712593/",
  "id": "0mkphvt7wdd80",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360745",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Adults"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Age Groups"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Biology and Life Sciences"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Body Mass Index"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Body Weight"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Covid 19"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Elderly"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Epidemiology"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Ethnicities"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Health Care"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Infectious Diseases"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Medical Conditions"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Medicine and Health Sciences"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Obesity"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Pandemics"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "People and Places"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Physical Activity"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Physiological Parameters"
    ],
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      "heading",
      "Physiology"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Population Groupings"
    ],
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      "Public and Occupational Health"
    ],
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    ],
    [
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      "Socioeconomic Aspects of Health"
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      "openalex",
      "2739|Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet"
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Physiological parameters/Body weight/Body mass index"
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Physiological parameters/Body weight/Obesity"
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Epidemiology/Pandemics"
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Socioeconomic aspects of health"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Infectious diseases/Viral diseases/COVID 19"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Physical activity"
    ],
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Socioeconomic aspects of health"
    ],
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  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0360745&type=printable",
  "pmcid": "PMC13712593",
  "pmid": "42945180",
  "published": "2026-10-27",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0mkphvt7wdd80.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360745"
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      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T12:23:08Z",
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "heading:Biology and Life Sciences",
      "subfield": "general"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:epidemiology",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
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    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "heading:Infectious Diseases",
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  "title": "Longitudinal changes in BMI and obesity across COVID-19 pandemic periods among underrepresented populations: An analysis of the All of Us dataset",
  "title_text": "Longitudinal changes in BMI and obesity across COVID-19 pandemic periods among underrepresented populations: An analysis of the All of Us dataset",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T12:23:08Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0mkphvt7wdd80",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}