If only it were so not more the “quarantine 15.”
Most people have struggled to maintain their weight during the pandemic, with 61% of American adults reporting an unwanted weight gain or loss since the coronavirus outbreak. According to a new survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) more than 3,000 people published each year since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
Prior to the pandemic, about four in ten Americans (about 93.3 million adults) were already obese, according to the CDC. And according to the latest APA report “Stress in America,” more than two in five of the adults surveyed (42%) revealed that they gained more weight than they intended in the past 12 months. And they gained £ 29, on average.
In fact, one in ten said they earned more than £ 50, which the APA notes is a textbook sign that indicates people are struggling to meet mental health challenges. (In fact, the report also found that one in three Americans sleeps less during the pandemic and more than half of parents said their stress level in their lives has increased.)
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A recent WebMD survey of more than 1,000 readers also revealed that more than half (54%) of respondents said they had gained weight “because of COVID restrictions” that altered their health routines. 54% reported exercising less and 68% admitted to snacking more.
Even Goop’s wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow revealed at a recent virtual event that she gained £ 14 over nine months. “I felt like my wine, my pastries, cookies, crackers and cheese were passing me by,” he said. (In true Hollywood form, though, he’s already lost weight.)
And this has led to terms like “the Covid 15,” as people pledge to resort to alcohol and comforting food during the online pandemic, going back to the “first year 15” that some students earn when they reach the university for the first time.
Those extra pounds are worrisome, though, especially during a global health crisis. The National Institutes of Health warns that such a significant weight gain carries serious long-term health risks. People who consume more than 11 pounds have a higher risk of developing coronary heart disease and type II diabetes, for example, while people who gain more than 25 pounds have a higher risk of stroke.
And, with a sick twist, that extra weight that people have gained as a result of the pandemic can actually make them month susceptible to COVID-19. Being obese increases the risk of serious COVID-19 disease, according to the CDC, and overweight people may also be at higher risk. Being obese can also triple the risk of hospitalization for COVID-19. And as an individual’s body mass index (BMI) increases, so does the risk of death from COVID-19.
That’s why some states like New York and Illinois have categorized obesity as one of the comorbidities that can allow adults under the age of 60 or 65 to get one of the COVID-19 vaccines.
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The big ones aren’t the only ones with growing waists, as the country has been sheltered in its place, gyms have closed and some people have been busy eating comfortable foods or consuming more alcohol to cope with the stress of pandemic, losing jobs or last year’s controversial election cycle.
Pediatricians warn that disrupting face-to-face school, sports, and other activities also causes children to gain weight.
And vets report that pets are getting scared. Banfield Pet Hospital, the largest general veterinary clinic in the country with hospitals in 42 states, surveyed nearly 1,000 dog and cat owners in October 2020. 42% of pet parents admitted that their pets they had gained weight during their forties, May, The Wall Street Journal reported.
So what can you do?
MarketWatch previously spoke with several leaders in the field of obesity research and prevention who reviewed the science on weight gain and loss to explain what to eat and what to avoid; how much exercise you need and which workouts work best; as well as their tips for making these moves a part of your daily routine.
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Mental health experts have also shared their coping strategies to reduce feelings of existential fear; connect with family and friends from a distance; and find ways to be kind to yourself and find joy, even within your bubble.