Rationalizing weight gain during the pandemic and why we need to prioritize our health now, more than ever.
Recently a friend joked that she and her children have gained the “COVID-19” since March, an ode to the “Freshman 15” many college freshmen put on during the first year of college. I could relate having unexpectedly gained weight since life changed so drastically in mid-March. While we should never be shamed for gaining weight, the hard truth is now is the worst time for us to be adding fat to our bodies. And yet, stress eating (and drinking) seems to be so common, many memes and articles seem to not only rationalize it but encourage it.
Just like you, I didn’t mean to put on weight! Before COVID I was going to the gym regularly, had a pretty good workout routine, was making healthy eating choices, and even seemed to be managing my stress levels. After COVID, I am lucky if I make it to bed before midnight and have on a clean shirt for my zoom meetings. I am also in the kitchen too often, snacking while cooking way too many meals a day for children who are always hungry! I cannot be the only one unintentionally finishing the mac and cheese left on plates that is too little to really save but too much to throw away. So between being off my schedule, making less conscious food choices, and being really stressed out and therefore actively over-indulging as a coping tool, I have gained weight. And I am clearly not alone.
But let me say it again, now is the worst time for us to be putting on weight. I know you are too stressed out to hear this and you don’t want to even think about prioritizing your health right now but please hear me out before you click the back button. Many studies are quickly showing that that being overweight can increase our risk of severe illness including being more vulnerable to develop a severe case of COVID-19. According to Dr. Stephens at Houston Methodist, obesity was the number one risk factor for developing a severe case of COVID-19 in people under age 55. The CDC website also lists obesity (defined as a BMI of 30 or greater) as a risk factor for developing a severe case of COVID-19. On a side note, The Obesity Society has put together an extensive lists of articles related to obesity and COVID-19.
“I’m not obese!” you are yelling at the screen! You might not be (although roughly about 40% of Americans are) but if you are one of the roughly 30% of Americans who are already overweight, gaining another “19” pounds could push you into that obese range. Now, I have absolutely argued in a prior blog that we do not need to put so much pressure on the number on the scale which remains true! Our self-worth should not be dependent on a number. And gaining just a few pounds, even if those few pounds cross you over from “healthy” to “overweight” on the BMI scale, may only be a minor setback and truly not a big deal. However, many of us are starting to lose muscle tone and add fat, which is a concerning combination. And truthfully, many of us are also not just gaining a “few pounds” and are already over a 10-15 pound weight gain. The more body fat you and I gain, the higher our risk starts to become for severe illnesses and a plethora of other medical conditions. The more weight we gain, the more this impacts our mentality and the greater a chance that we continue to slip into unhealthy habits. Which then in turn leads to greater weight gain and a greater risk for numerous health issues.
A more positive way to phrase my message is that the more frequently we engage in healthy activities from walks to meditating to stretching to dance parties, the more likely we are to continue our healthy momentum into the kitchen. The greater number of healthy choices we make from our mentality to our physical fitness to our nutrition, the more protection we have from illnesses including COVID-19. The more healthy choices we make, the better we feel and that starts to permeate into other areas of our lives and our family’s life. So re-consider selling your fitness equipment on Facebook Market Place and consider carving out time to use it or the numerous online fitness programs. And consider improving your nutrition as a way to improve your health long term. Bottom line, if not finishing the mac and cheese off my kids’ plates is one more step toward future health, then that’s the step I’m going to start taking. I hope you join me!
For other blogs by Amanda and other health articles, check out https://optimallybalanced.com//articles/
