Forty-five out of every 50 U.S. state governments issued reception orders at the site from March 19 to April 6, 2020 to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
“On average, they gained about 0.6 pounds every 10 days or 1.8 pounds a month during reception orders,” said cardiologist Dr. Gregory Marcus, one of the authors of the research and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
The research found that this weight gain was regardless of geographic location or comorbidities. The study authors said the implementation of shelter orders at the site also corresponded to a decrease in the daily count of steps and an increase in food overexpression.
These two corresponding factors follow what experts believe is behind an increase in weight gain during the pandemic. CNN contributor on health and nutrition Lisa Drayer names comfort for eating, especially, as a problem during this stressful time.
During a lockdown, many have resorted to high-calorie foods like sweets or pizza to relieve stress when there is little to do or wait for, and working from home allows the kitchen to be within reach all day.
Just as the pandemic has changed eating habits, it has also had an impact on exercise habits, according to Dr. Caroline Apovian, co-director of the Weight Management and Wellness Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
With gyms that many relied on, closed and people were losing basic daily physical activity (like walking from the parking lot to their office), some people are not doing the same level of exercise as before. stopped.
If you’re reading this and you’re thinking about your own less-than-ideal habits that you picked up over the past year, Drayer said it’s not time to blame yourself.
“Definitely cut yourself a break,” Drayer said. “Eating is one of life’s pleasures and the pandemic was so stressful that it’s understandable that we eat more of our favorite comforting foods, and more often and in large quantities.”
However, it is important to recognize the unintended health consequences of on-site reception orders, the study authors said. They noted that their results show the need for strategies to mitigate weight gain, as local governments consider their responses to Covid-19 and future pandemics.
If this weight gain is significant and permanent, there could be broader implications for society, according to Drayer.
“It means there are other unintended health consequences associated with a pandemic that can complicate a risk situation,” he said.
This is because obesity or overweight can increase the risk of serious Covid-19 disease, with obesity potentially tripling the risk of hospitalization due to Covid-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. of US Diseases.
How these results are visualized to address weight gain
This study did have its limitations. The sample size of the study was small and not diverse: of the 269 participants, 77% were white.
“The fact that they are (mostly) white only means that if you look at a population of diverse racial nature, the results will be worse,” Apovian said. This is “because we know that obesity is more common in different races.”
The study reliance on Bluetooth scales and weight measurements leads to a reduction in the overall sample size, which is another limitation, according to the study authors.
They also point out that the characteristics of people who possess these scales (who already control their weight and pay attention to their health) may limit the extent to which the results of the study can be applied to other settings, but say that following individuals over time, assessing weight changes during on-site shelter orders decreases the threat to internal validity.
“It may be that what we observe is really an underestimation of the magnitude of the weight gain that most people have experienced, because if anything these people are especially interested in health and research,” Marcus said.
With all this in mind, Drayer said there are steps you can take to increase metabolism, correct bad habits, and lose a few pounds, even during a pandemic:
- Eat small, frequent meals. Eat three meals and three snacks each day, three to four hours apart. Never skip meals; have portable snacks at your disposal for times when you are too busy to stop and eat. Try to be consistent with your meal and snack schedules.
- Include protein in the dish. Try to include at least 3 ounces of protein to eat. For proper portioning, view the size of a computer mouse or card game.
- Start lifting weights slowly. A light weight lifting will help you preserve muscle mass, increase metabolism and tone while shedding pounds.
- Start walking. A brisk walk for at least 30 minutes each day will blow up your metabolism and help you burn extra calories.
- Find alternatives to relieve stress. Sometimes you may want to indulge your treats, but often a hot bath or a walk in the stables can relieve stress.
Apovian hopes that at least Americans will learn the importance of tackling obesity.
“This gets to the point where your weight changes in a different environment. And it’s not your fault, it’s because (obesity is) a disease. And obesity disease is a dysfunction of brain connections with hormones. that control your appetite and satiety, ”Apovian said.
“(The study) shows that your illness can get worse if you have a lot of food around you or you don’t eat too much of it or you stay home. It’s about the fact that this is not a matter of willpower.”