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OTTAWA – A new survey suggests many Canadians are gaining weight because they eat more and exercise less during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nearly a third of respondents in the survey conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies said they had gained weight since March, compared with 15% who said they had lost weight during that time.
Additionally, around a third of respondents said they exercise less, while 16% said they exercise more since the first wave of the pandemic landed in Canada in the spring.
Jack Jedwab, president of the Association for Canadian Studies, has suggested that one reason may be the rush for comfort food to address pandemic-related anxieties.
Respondents in the survey who said they were “very scared” of COVID-19 were more likely to report gaining weight, eating more and exercising less.
“The more anxiety you have, the more likely you are to know that you are eating more,” Jedwab said.
“The people who are least anxious about COVID (are) the ones who aren’t eating more than usual and aren’t gaining weight.”
The online survey of 1,516 Canadians was conducted from 29 to 31 October and a margin of error cannot be assigned because internet-based surveys are not considered random samples.
Dr Yoni Freedhoff, an associate professor of family medicine at the University of Ottawa, said there are plausible reasons for linking weight gain or loss with the pandemic, but he hadn’t seen any studies to convince him that this is the case. .
Some people “don’t depend on restaurants constantly” and “cook more frequently in their homes,” which Freedhoff says could lead to weight loss or better dietary choices. Others eat more, he said, relying on comfort food “because they are anxious about the pandemic or the tragedies that have taken place in their lives.”
Jedwab said the country also needs to be aware of mental health issues that can affect the physical health of Canadians.
“With the arrival of winter, it will be even more difficult, in some parts of the country, to maintain a healthy lifestyle in terms of walking, in terms of basic activities that will help us cope with our anxieties,” he said. pointing to the lack of access for some to gyms subject to local lockdowns.
Some of these exercise classes are online. Gabriel Shaw, a kinesiologist from Victoria, BC, said he has offered virtual classes to give his clients a chance to be physically active.
Shaw said the classes don’t provide people with a sense of community like the in-person classes, which he says is important for some people to practice consistently.
“The best thing for people is to find a way to enjoy it. It could be a social walk or a hike, a run or a bike ride with a friend, “Shaw said.” It could be finding something from Zoom that you can indulge in such as dancing or even other activities that you have friends in. “
Shaw said people should also try to learn a new skill such as dance, yoga, rock climbing or start running to keep things fresh and fun, which is key to training long and well.
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