As a second summer amid the approach of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans worry about losing weight after so many months spent mostly at home. A lot of people haven’t had much to do except eat their favorite meals, TV shows, and movies.
But how much weight have Americans really gained since the first orders were placed to stay home a year ago?
Polls have stated what most people assumed: that “quarantine 15,” like “first year 15,” is a real concern. But a new study He tried to better quantify the weight Americans have gained through use measurements from smart scales connected to Bluetooth.
Research found that adults gained nearly two pounds a month for a four-month stretch that corresponded to last year’s strictest blockades. That Gregory M. Marcus, cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, could add up to 20 pounds in a year The New York Times.
“We know that weight gain is already a public health problem in the United States, so anything that gets worse is definitely worrisome and reception orders are so ubiquitous that the large number of people affected makes it extremely relevant. “Marcus said.
All study participants followed their weight as part of a cardiology study asking them to weigh themselves regularly using smart scales connected to Bluetooth. Each participant reported about 28 weight measurements between February 1, 2020 and June 1, 2020.
The researchers acknowledged that the study is small (it only included 269 people) and therefore cannot make any broad hypotheses. However, it still hints at a growing problem supported by other research.
A survey by the American Psychological Association found that 42% of 3,013 adult respondents said they experienced unwanted weight gain amid the pandemic. Of this group, the average person gained 29 pounds.
But that amount was even greater among millennials. Nearly 50% of millennials surveyed said they had gained weight. And your average weight gain? About an amazing 41 pounds, the highest amount of any generation.
Obesity is one of the biggest threats to the health of Americans and is considered a risk factor for more severe COVID-19 disease and hospitalization.
Nearly 42% of American adults consider themselves obese and another 32% are overweight. Adults are considered obese if their body mass index is greater than or equal to 30. In many states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, people with obesity are being given priority for coronavirus vaccines.
Dr. Angela Fitch, associate director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center, described the weight gains reported by millennials as striking.
“As an obesity specialist … I find it alarming, for sure,” Fitch said CBS News. “But you can see where that might be the case. I mean, it’s been a very challenging year, on several levels.”
COVID-19 has altered life in many ways. Many people have mourned the loss of loved ones or faced financial problems, including the cost of healthy food. Others have had limited time to exercise. All of this could contribute to the weight struggles of Americans.
How to lose weight in the middle of the pandemic
So how can you lose weight while still spending much of your time at home? Here they are some recommendations of experts:
Eat more processed products and less processed foods and avoid sugary drinks that contain excess calories. The key is to reduce 500 calories each day through exercise and a reduction in calorie intake, nutrition experts say.
Maintaining a daily routine, planning meals, and getting dressed for work, even when working from home, can help people stay on track with their goals physically, recommend John Morton and Artur Viana, by Yale Medicine Staying in tracksuit pants all day can hide any gradual weight gain.
Also, don’t skip breakfast. Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast every day have lower body mass rates than people who skip it.
People can use the time at home to try new and healthy recipes and to improve their sleep regimens, so that they sleep more every night. Obesity has been linked to lower amounts of sleep.
And, of course, exercise, either indoors or outdoors as the warmer weather returns. According to the World Health Organization, adults need at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a week.
Want to limit your outdoor time? Create a makeshift gym or start family yoga sessions. If space is limited, use household cleaning and other tasks to increase daily steps.