Quarantine weight gain: tips to lose lockdown pounds and why you’ve put it on – even if you’re exercising
- Less low-level exercise and more unhealthy food has led many to gain weight during the coronavirus lockdown, even if exercising at home
- The Mayo Clinic’s Dr Donald Hensrud talks about why bad habits now could be dangerous in the future and quick ways to shed a few kilos
If you’ve gained weight during the coronavirus pandemic, you aren’t alone. The “Quarantine 15” – referring to the weight gain in pounds some people have experienced since stay-at-home guidelines went into effect – is probably due to a disruption in daily routine and habits.
“People’s habits have changed quite a bit since we’re spending more time at home,” says Dr Donald Hensrud, medical director of the Healthy Living Programme at the Mayo Clinic, based in the US state of Minnesota, adding that those changes can lead to health and medical issues down the road.
“Even if we have a desk job, we have to walk at least to our car to get to work. We may walk throughout the day; we may walk to lunch. And, so, for spending time at home, that [lack of ] low-level activity may be causing us to burn fewer overall calories.”
Meanwhile, we may be consuming more calories while working from home.