How to ‘Build Back Better’ Health Habits after the Pandemic Year
A doctor offers tips on how to safely get exercise, sleep and drinking habits back into shape as the pandemic wanes. Claudia Finkelstein ,
Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Michigan State UniversityThe Conversation
The U.S. is in far different shape today than it was last Memorial Day, and many Americans are, too.
According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, undesired changes in weight driven by pandemic stress are widespread: 42% of adults reported gaining weight, with a median weight gain of 15 pounds, while 18% reported undesired weight loss. About 66% of people reported changes in their sleep habits, and 23% of respondents reported an increase in alcohol use.
With our normal routines thrown out the window and the prospect of spending the entire day in your pyjamas becoming increasingly appealing, it is more important than ever to return to healthy habits after the pandemic year.
It’s the moment we thought we were all waiting for… or is it? We were cautiously optimistic about the end of the pandemic in view of increasing vaccine availability and decreasing case numbers after the peak in January.