On October 10, 2020, we celebrated World Mental Health Day. It is an annual celebration aimed at raising awareness about mental health and giving hope and support to people who struggle with mental health issues. And with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting everyone, it is a significant and timely reminder during this challenging time.
COVID-19 doesn’t only pose a danger to your physical health, but also your mental health. Two of the most common problems that people face right now are severe stress and anxiety. These two are already difficult to handle in and of themselves. What’s more; this can snowball in other areas of their life.
Weight gain in COVID-19
Did you know that 22% of adults have reportedly gained weight during the pandemic? This increase is of course understandable, given that the change in environment triggered a change in behavior and coping mechanisms.
A recent study published in Obesity Research & Clinical Practice Journal has revealed that stress eating is one of the main causes of weight gain during COVID-19 self-quarantine. The others are:
Snacking after dinner
Lack of discipline or dietary restraint
Not getting enough sleep
Reduced physical activity
In the same study, 14.2% of the respondents reported a significant increase in eating large amounts of food when they are depressed or upset. Similarly, 17.34% observe the same change in their eating behavior when they are stressed and 11.56% do the same when they are anxious.
Weight gain in COVID-19 primarily affects people who use food as a coping mechanism for stress. But good nutrition and a healthy diet are both crucial in supporting a strong immune system, which is everyone’s shield against coronavirus.
How to Maintain a Healthy Weight Despite COVID-related stress?
In our previous blog post, we talked about 4 simple ways to make eating healthy during quarantine.
Aside from eating home-cooked meals, avoiding late-night eating, using portion control, and keeping yourself well-hydrated—which we have discussed before—we now have some additional tips to combat stress eating, as recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations:
Check food labels
Avoid buying and eating foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt. Comfort foods are often very rich in these ingredients to make them palatable, so limit your purchase of these foods.
Take away tempting foods
If you are stuck in your house, you often grab whatever is available and easily accessible, so make sure that these foods are the healthy ones.
Limit alcohol intake
Some people cope with stress by drinking alcoholic drinks. Apart from having little nutritional value, these beverages have a high caloric content, which makes them very unhealthy when consumed in excessive amounts.
When to seek the help of a dietician in Spring Hill
If you are still having difficulty keeping a healthy weight, you can book the services of our expert dietitian in Spring Hill. With the help of our professional dietician, you will be guided on healthy and safe methods to lose weight.
We understand that certain eating behaviors and habits are not easy to break, so we are here to keep you motivated and guided all the way. Since weight loss is a very personal journey, we make sure that our weight loss plan is customized to address the individual needs and goals of our clients.
Learn more about our Brooksville Weight Loss Center
Our highly qualified weight-loss experts at Batista Weight Loss and Wellness: Susan Batista, RDLD; John Batista, M.D.; Stephanie, M.A; and Valerie, Office Staff, together have decades of experience working with weight loss patients.
At the Batista Weight Loss and Wellness Clinic, we believe that successful weight loss depends on two factors – the knowledge about how to lose weight, and following through on your weight loss plan. Our expert dietitians in Spring Hill and nutritionists in Brookville will provide you with a customized weight loss plan and regular face-to-face interaction and motivation. You can also avail of our online dietitian consulting service.
To create your own customized weight loss plan with us and achieve sustainable weight loss in Brooksville, don’t hesitate to contact us at (352) 600-3476 or drop us a visit at our clinic: 443 Mariner Blvd, Spring Hill, FL 34609, USA.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.