As a second summer in the midst of the approaching COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans are worrying about losing weight after so many months spent mostly at home. Many people did not have much to do, except to eat their favorite foods, television programs and movies.
But how much weight have Americans really gained since the first requests to stay at home were issued a year ago?
Research has confirmed what most people assumed – that “quarantine 15”, like “freshman 15”, is a real concern. But one new study tried to better quantify the weight that Americans gained using measurements of smart scales connected via Bluetooth.
The surveys found that adults gained almost a pound a month over a four-month period that corresponded to the most stringent blockages of the past year. What it can easily add up to 20 pounds in a year, said researcher Dr. Gregory M. Marcus, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco. The New York Times.
“We know that weight gain is already a public health problem in the United States, so anything that makes it worse is definitely worrying, and requests for shelters on site are so ubiquitous that the large number of people affected by it makes it extremely relevant “. Marcus said.
All study participants were monitoring their weight as part of a cardiology study that asked them to weigh themselves regularly using smart scales connected via Bluetooth. Each participant reported about 28 weight measurements between February 1, 2020 and June 1, 2020.
The researchers recognized that the study is small – it included only 269 people – and therefore cannot make broad assumptions. However, it still points to a growing problem supported by other research.
A survey by the American Psychological Association found that 42% of its 3,013 adults surveyed said they experienced unwanted weight gain in the midst of the pandemic. Of that group, the average person gained 29 pounds.
But that amount was even higher among millennials. Almost 50% of millennials surveyed said they had gained weight. And your average weight gain? Incredible 41 pounds, the largest amount of any generation.
Obesity is one of the biggest health threats to Americans and is considered a risk factor for more serious COVID-19 disease and hospitalization.
Almost 42% of American adults are considered obese and another 32% are overweight. Adults are considered obese if their body mass index is 30 or higher. In many states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, obese people are being prioritized for coronavirus vaccines.
Dr. Angela Fitch, associate director of the Weight Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, called the weight gains reported by the millennium generation “impressive”.
“As an obesity medicine specialist … I find that alarming, for sure,” said Fitch 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 interrupted life in many ways. Many people have suffered the loss of loved ones or faced financial problems, including the cost of healthy food. Others had limited time to exercise. All of this may be contributing to the weight struggles of Americans.
How to lose weight gained in the middle of the pandemic
So, how can people lose weight while still spending a lot of time at home? Here they are some recommendations from the experts:
Eat more products and less processed foods and avoid sugary drinks that contain excess calories. The key is to cut 500 calories every day through exercise and reduced calorie intake, nutrition experts say.
Maintaining a daily routine, planning meals and dressing for work – even working from home – can help people stay on track with their fitness goals, recommend John Morton and Artur Viana, of Yale Medicine. Staying in sweatpants 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 indexes than people who don’t.
People can use their time at home to try new, healthy recipes and to improve their sleep regimens so that they sleep more each night. Obesity has been linked to less sleep.
And, of course, exercise, whether indoors or out when the hottest weather returns. Adults need at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a week, according to the World Health Organization.
Trying to limit time outdoors? Create a makeshift gym or start family yoga sessions. If space is limited, use household cleaning and other tasks to increase daily steps.