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Asked by anon-250236 to Shilpa on 24 Jun 2020.
Question: Do you think that there will be a large increase in obesity due to the quarantine?
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Shilpa Nagarajan answered on 24 Jun 2020:
That’s a good question! It’s hard to tell, and I definitely don’t have all the facts, but I don’t think so. In terms of diet, people might be snacking more often now (because of stress, boredom, or many other reasons) but they could also be eating out less often (restaurant/fast food tends to have larger portions and have more calories). In terms of exercise, some may be confined to their house more now while others may be enjoying the great outdoors in ways they didn’t used to before. It depends on the individual and the circumstances that COVID-19 put them in. Either way, gaining a few extra pounds during this stressful time is totally okay. As we continue to live in this new post-COVID 19 world, it’s important to find creative ways of staying healthy and sane.
Comments
Graeme commented on :
There is actually a principle called the scarcity principle. This suggests when something is limited we want it more. So when we were told we could only exercise once per day there is some evidence that people who did not normally exercise started to do some. Lets hope they continue. I also think less access to fast food and coffee shops may help us. Having said that, there is the Furlough Merlot (increased in alcohol consumption). Lets see but amazing question.
Martin commented on :
I’m encouraged to see more people using their bikes and less people in cars so if I had to guess then I would say that I expect to see obesity increase during the quarantine but with public transport being challenging and roads being quieter I would expect more people to walk/cycle to work etc. so perhaps obesity could reduce in the long term after it increases in the short term.