The “Freshman15” is a common term to describe weight gain in your first year at college. Now there’s been a spark of nationwide weight gain from the new “Pandemic15”. This has become a very common way to describe the weight gain from this past year’s pandemic.
In a poll from 1000 WebMD reader’s, nearly half of the women and almost one quarter of men gained weight due to COVID restrictions. The trend has shown that increased stress and uncertainty has disrupted people’s exercise and eating habits. City Health Services wants to be productive and help people in our community reverse the scale!
We are currently having a $27 New Patient Special for B12 shots, medical weight loss consult, full examination, x-rays, and a complimentary 20 minute massage.
Here are the possible causes for your pandemic weight gain and begin your first step towards a successful pandemic weight loss program.
Working From Home-Snacking at Home
The pandemic has forced a large portion of our society to start working from home. This transition has given a positive impact to many with eliminating commute stress, location independence, money savings, and a flexible work schedule. However, working from home can unfortunately be convenient when it comes to the easy accessibility to our own kitchen.
If you’re working at home it’s still important to set a consistent eating schedule and have the willpower to not make multiple trips to your fridge to escape your desk.
Gym Lockdowns
Health Clubs across the country have been forced to be under strict provisions, accomodate to CDC guidelines, and for many even to shut down. This change of events has taken us out of Exercise regimen, feeling unmotivated, and unable to participate in our normal exercise classes.
On March 25th, Arizona had uplifted some COVID restrictions and mandatory mask mandate. Health Clubs in Arizona are close to being back to normal and allowing full occupancy. This should give us extra motivation to start to set a consistent exercise program and make sure to incorporate progressions week to week. Let’s also never take for granted the freedom to exercise and put our health priority.
Sedentary Lifestyle
A study posted online by the JAMA Network health journal, researchers from University of California San Francisco (UCSF) found that participants under stay-at-home orders gained on average 0.59 pounds every 10 days spent under lockdown-a finding that could indicate as many as 20 over the course of 2020 and early 2021 for some newly-remote workers.
These stay at home orders has had an impact on our society, making being inside their home all day a habitual routine.
A study from Healthline has shown a relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and weight gain. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that you can get from sun exposure, food or supplements. Nearly 50% of people are low in Vitamin D.
Start creating the habit of getting outside your house, start going on routine walks, and get involved with outdoor activities you enjoy.
Stress Eating
Stress also seems to affect food preferences. Numerous studies — granted, many of them in animals — have shown that physical or emotional distress increases the intake of food high in fat, sugar, or both. High cortisol levels, in combination with high insulin levels, may be responsible. Other research suggests that ghrelin, a “hunger hormone,” may have a role.
Once ingested, fat- and sugar filled seem to have a feedback effect that dampens stress related responses and emotions. These foods really are “comfort” foods in that they seem to counteract stress — and this may contribute to people’s stress-induced craving for those foods.
Mental Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 43 percent of adults living with depression were obese, with women of any age living with depression being more likely to be obese than both men or women without depression.
Additionally, adults taking antidepressants to treat depression were more likely to be obese than those who were not on medication.
The studies from the CDC conclude that poor mental health and anxiety will translate to your physical well being in poor condition as well.
The Mental Health Foundation recommends doing these activities to improve your mental well being.
- Talk about your feelings. Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled. …
- Keep active. …
- Eat well. …
- Drink sensibly. …
- Keep in touch. …
- Ask for help. …
- Take a break. …
- Do something you’re good at.
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Lack of Sleep
According to Healthline, poor sleep Is a major risk factor for weight gain and obesity. Poor sleep has repeatedly been linked to a higher body mass index (BMI) and weight gain ( 2 ). People’s sleep requirements vary, but, generally speaking, research has observed changes in weight when people get fewer than seven hours of sleep a night
The stresses associated with COVID-19 has caused sleep deprivation in many and there are devastating consequences from lack of sleep than just weight gain.
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation
- Mood Disorders
- Loss of Critical Thinking Skills
- Weakened Immunity
- High Blood Pressure
- Low Sex Drive
- Poor Balance
Untreated Physical Pain
Untreated pain has a profound impact on quality of life and can have physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences. Inappropriately managed acute pain can result in immunological and neural changes, which can progress to chronic pain if untreated. Common sequelae of untreated chronic pain include decreased mobility, impaired immunity, decreased concentration, sleep disturbances, and weight gain.
