A recently released report from the American Psychological Association (APA) found that over 61% of Americans said they've had undesired changes in weight during the coronavirus pandemic.
Forty-two percent of people reported that they put on more weight than they wanted, gaining an average of 29 pounds, while 18% said they lost more weight than they wanted, shedding an average of 26 pounds over the past year.
Roughly half of essential workers and parents reported unwanted weight gain, averaging an increase of 38 pounds and 36 pounds, respectively.
The study was part of a larger report by the APA on how stressful life has been during the global pandemic. During the past year, 67% of Americans have reported issues with their sleep, while 23% have been drinking more alcohol than usual to cope with their stress.
"We've been concerned throughout this pandemic about the level of prolonged stress, exacerbated by the grief, trauma, and isolation that Americans are experiencing. This survey reveals a secondary crisis that is likely to have persistent, serious mental and physical health consequences for years to come," said Arthur C. Evans Jr, Ph.D., APA's chief executive officer. "Health and policy leaders must come together quickly to provide additional behavioral health supports as part of any national recovery plan."
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