The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on Friday warned that obesity remains a major public health concern in the region.
It noted that the Caribbean has some of the highest rates of overweight and obesity in the Americas among adults.
CARPHA's executive director, Dr. Joy St. John, said childhood obesity is associated with health problems such as Type 2 diabetes and has been linked to a higher risk of disability and premature death into adulthood.
CARPHA warned that being obese, places an individual at a high risk for developing non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
It said the COVID-19 pandemic has posed an additional risk to people living with obesity, as they are twice as likely to be hospitalised if they contract the virus.