In March 2020, COVID-19 shifted normalcy and significantly changed everyday life for individuals across the globe. With various restrictions in places officials have, and continue to try, controlling the spread and infection level of the virus. After a year in lock down, the pandemic has affected weight and mental health in several ways. As cases in Michigan begin to ramp up, concerns of another shut down are looming.
Forcing millions of Americans across the country into isolation, COVID-19 tested patience, endurance and faith in medicine and the methods being used to mitigate the spread of the virus. For those who also suffered from a mental illness before the pandemic, isolation and disturbances in everyday life have aggravated matters.
Depression, along with stress, are some of the leading causes of weight gain. Both have severely impacted emotions throughout the pandemic. Despite being homebound, access to fast food through online ordering and delivery apps made for easier solutions for a family dinner. Economically, these food options may also have been more affordable. For a community that is predisposed to the effects of weight gain, this was additional bad news.
“Before the plague of COVID, many of us were already struggling with diet as it relates to the management of multiple disease states such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity which have ravaged our communities,” says Doniss Hicks, RD, RDN and Owner of Living4Wellness. “Unfortunately, these risk factors not only made us more susceptible to COVID, they exacerbated our inability to control our health and weight.”
As the pandemic continues to surge, there continues to be a high level of mistrust for the medical professionals and general fears of the unknown. As fears of food shortages grew, access to healthy options diminished.
“As a result of fear and a lack of understanding about the disease and nutrition, businesses desperate to stay afloat exploited our communities with DoorDash, GrubHub and the proliferation of grocery delivery from nearly every food outlet — all accessible by phone, text or email,” says Hicks.
While much is left unknown about the virus, the intersection of COVID and diet has been highly speculated upon since the start of the pandemic. In the African American community, food is used as a form of expression and of love. However, most foods are not considered healthy. Adding on the pressures of the pandemic, food choices became less.
“For most African Americans, food is more about how it makes you feel after you take a bite rather than how this food is keeping you healthy,” says Hicks. “Food is about gathering with family and eating your favorite high calorie, sugary, starchy foods made by grandma. Instead, we sat alone eating a family sized bag of Lay’s potato chips and gained more weight than we desired.”
Weight gain is just one end of the spectrum. Individuals have experienced weight loss as an effect of the pandemic. Depression caused by the pandemic and other life factors can cause a decrease in appetite. As COVID affects the sense of smell and taste, such a loss can result in a severe loss of appetite and cause rapid weight loss.
“For those who have had COVID and survived, some may experience a lack of taste and smell which dulls the appetite and leads to weight loss,” says Hicks.
To help combat the effects of the pandemic and its effect on weight loss and gain, educating the masses on food and how it benefits the body will be beneficial.
“Education is needed to instill within the masses that food can be both delicious and healthy and affordable for all. A proper balanced diet consisting of plant–based foods, with less starch, sugar and salt is the key to reducing incidences of diabetes, obesity and heart disease. We can prepare Soul Food, but with less sugar and fat. Instead, unhealthy food was our crutch during those [days],” says Hicks.
With no end in sight, the pandemic has surpassed the one-year mark and remains just as elusive as the first day it entered the scene. However, with intention and improved food choices, the pounds and the pandemic will be a thing of the past.
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