If you’ve gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic, you aren’t alone. The “Quarantine 15” — referring to weight gain some people have experienced since stay-at-home guidelines went into effect — is likely 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 Mayo Clinic’s Healthy Living Program. And those changes in habits can lead to health and medical issues down the road. Hensrud shares his thoughts on the disruption of habits and how people can find new habits.
“Now, I want to make a point for some people: getting enough food, getting enough calories and maintaining weight may be an issue,” says Hensrud. “Some people may have to worry about maintaining their weight not unintentionally losing weight. But for many of us, our habits have changed.”
Change in movement
“For example, people think about exercise right away, and they should,” says Hensrud. “Fitness centers are closed, people may be doing less exercise and burning less calories through activity that way. What people don’t think quite as much about though is low-level activity throughout the day. 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 low-level activity may be causing us to burn fewer overall calories.”