Why you shouldn’t stress about weight gain during isolation

Wellness By


Nina Odongo

As the country reopens, many of us will be taking stock of our lives in light of the new normal.

For many, there will be myriad changes, not just to how they operate on a daily basis but also to job and financial security, parenthood and physical and psychological changes.

Weight gain will be a common theme as many people have spent the last few months in an artificially sedentary state, remaining indoors for excessive periods of time with little to do but eat.

There will be several eating triggers to take into account, such as boredom and stress, and many of these also trigger hormones that make us more prone to hold on to fat.

The pervasiveness of modern-day diet culture and body consciousness will leave many of us feeling ashamed and overwhelmed by our new body shapes, desperate to make immediate and radical changes to our lifestyles.

However, this is an extremely stressful time for everyone and it is important to be kind to yourself. While physical health is important, mental health is equally a priority.

Make small, gradual changes and focus on total body well-being, rather than a crash course in weight loss.