Munich (dpa/lby) - In the corona pandemic, the weight of many adults has changed: According to a study, 35 percent have gained weight, while 15 percent have lost some, in some cases significantly. The eating habits of those respondents who felt stressed by the corona situation changed particularly frequently. This was the result of a study presented in Munich on Thursday by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine (EKFZ) at the Technical University of Munich.
According to the survey, those who gained weight now weigh about 6.5 kilograms more on average than before the pandemic began - and thus more than a year ago. "The change is going in a direction that is unfavorable from a health perspective," explained EKFZ director Hans Hauner. He therefore expects an increase in weight and lifestyle-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
According to the study, people with a higher starting weight, with less exercise than before the pandemic and those who felt mentally stressed by the pandemic reported weight gain. However, according to experts, many adults gain up to a kilo per year anyway due to the natural aging process due to changes in metabolism and hormones.
At the same time, around 15 percent of those surveyed have lost weight since the pandemic began, an average of 7.9 kilograms. The experts explained that this could indicate a healthier lifestyle. However, a striking number of 18- to 29-year-olds and already slim people with a body mass index below 20 also lost weight. "There are also studies that clearly show that eating disorders have increased during the pandemic," explained Martina de Zwaan from the Clinic for Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at the Hannover Medical School.
"Many people with a weight problem need help from outside," emphasized Hauner. Health policy can launch campaigns to motivate and support people.
