The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns over the past year have taken a physical and mental tole on people worldwide. With county Coronavirus cases continuing to rise, taking steps to maintain your physical and mental health is crucial. In part 1 of a two-part series, reporter Cassidy Taylor has statistics on how the pandemic has affected the physical health of people under lockdown and what you can do to improve your own physical health…
An October 2020 publication in the Obesity research journal reported that, while many people maintained healthy lifestyle habits during the lockdown, others showed negative changes in eating and exercise due to abrupt changes to daily routines. Weight gain was reported in over 27% of all participants and over 33% of participants classified as obese. With gyms closed and many unable to leave their homes, there was also an overall decline in physical activity among participants.
The CDC reports that obesity increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. To help improve your physical health during the pandemic, the CDC recommends eating a healthy diet to promote healthy weight and boost the immune system, engaging in regular physical activity from home, and maintaining a regular sleep schedule. More information is available below.
The Impact of COVID‐19 Stay‐At‐Home Orders on Health Behaviors in Adults:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33043562/
CDC: Obesity, Race/Ethnicity, and COVID-19:
https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/obesity-and-covid-19.html#:~:text=%E2%80%A2%20Having%20obesity%20increases%20the,to%20impaired%20immune%20function.
