61% of Americans Say They Gained Weight During the Pandemic

• Sixty-one percent of U.S. adults report undesired weight changes since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
• Stress, lack of exercise, unhealthy changes in eating habits, and increased alcohol consumption are all contributing factors.
• Experts say making small adjustments to your daily routine can help make big changes for a more healthy lifestyle.

Aside from the serious health concerns associated with COVID-19, you may have heard people make light about gaining “the COVID 19.”

This is a play on the “freshman 15” reference of gaining weight during the first year of college.

But as much as it’s become a joke to some, it’s rooted in reality.

With the closing of gyms, the complete disruption of our daily lives, and the increase of daily stress, many people have gained weight since the beginning of the pandemic.

In fact, a new American Psychological Association (APA) survey of more than 3,000 people reveals that 61 percent of U.S. adults report undesired weight changes since the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), before the pandemic, about 40 percent of people had obesity in the United States.

According to the new APA survey, 2 in 5 of the 3,000 adults surveyed gained more weight than they intended over the last year, at an average of 29 pounds per person. Ten percent said they gained more than 50 pounds.

Weight changes are a common symptom of coping with mental health challenges, according to the APA.