The shocking amount of weight Americans gained during the pandemic

If your clothes are fitting a little bit tighter since the Covid-19 pandemic began, you’re not alone. A recent study shows that most American’s gained a significant amount of weight during their work from home transition.

On the one hand, we are fighting a pandemic, and on the other, we are fighting an obesity epidemic.

American’s previously struggled with shedding pounds before the pandemic, but a new study shows most weight loss progress was reversed during the past year. 

A recent pandemic study on weight changes

As recorded in the JAMA Network, the study analyzed 7,444 weight measurements from 269 adults who participated in the study.

The participants lived in 37 different states, and 48% were men. 

The study recorded the data for the first few months of the pandemic from February 1, 2020, to June 1, 2020. The results? The participants gained an average of 1.5 pounds each month. While the study ended on June 1, if the trend continued, that means they would have gained about 20 pounds over the length of the pandemic.

While it may be evident that much of our regular physical activity was altered due to gyms and other fitness locations being closed, it seems we didn’t exercise in other ways. We decreased our activity altogether. 

In addition to weight gain during isolation, food intake also increased for the participants which contributed to several adverse health effects. These include increased drug use, suicide, and spikes in obesity.

As vaccinations increase, so should our physical activity

As the number of vaccinated American’s increases, we must get back to routine physical activity. Our physical and mental health depends on it.

Our sedentary lifestyles can add increased difficulty to changing our habits. The most challenging part of an exercise routine is starting. At the end of the day, it’s hard to get back in shape when you’re tired and overweight.

However, once you get to a point where you are motivated enough to start, you must keep with it to create a routine of healthy habits that are hard to break. That doesn’t mean you have to be super strict and give up everything else you love. It’s about balance while increasing healthy habits.

Find your motivator

Create a SMART goal you want to achieve. Find your motivator. It could be you really love the gym, or it could be that you’re training for a marathon or other event. Whatever your reason, start small and work your way up.

Keep your weight loss goals Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Timely (SMART). This will help you continue pushing forward when you feel like quitting. The key is to find the type of activity that best fits your lifestyle to create good exercise habits. If you hate running, don’t run. Find another aerobic type activity that you will enjoy – otherwise, you will constantly be fighting yourself to keep pushing forward.

Without continual healthy exercise habits, a mental state full of anxiety and stress can lead to you falling back into a cycle of unhealthy habits. Ensuring you are happy and satisfied is perhaps the most critical aspect when attempting to get back into shape. 

Keep pushing forward, you can do this!

One of the most sought after benefits of exercise is that it makes you feel good about yourself. Not only does exercise increase mental wellbeing, but it also has physical benefits such as increased bone density, improved cardiovascular fitness, decreased body fat, and increased serotonin levels.

Exercise is a great way to improve your mood, make you feel less stressed, decrease your risk of diseases, and live a happier life. Start today to shed those excess pounds gained to come out of this pandemic slimmer and stronger than ever.