Israelis are not being spared the so-called quarantine 15 weight gain, according to the Health Ministry, which is warning that some 50 percent of the population could gain 5-7 kilograms (11-15 lbs), due to being less active and more worried, Kan reports.
People with shopping bags in Jerusalem on April 12, 2020. (Nati Shohat/Flash90)
In the US, as well, there is growing recognition about people putting on 15 pounds or so, as a result of forced stagnation and increased tensions, which often drives people to worry-gorge. (The 15 number is a reference to the Freshman 15 that college students are said to gain when they first get to campus.)
“When we’re worried or frightened, we’re more likely to seek out sugars, fats, and carbs for a quick energy boost. These comfort foods act like a natural tranquilizer that calms us down in times of peril,” reads a recent article in Psychology Today on the phenomenon.
The article counsels that “to break the stress cycle, we can find stress-reducing activities, such as exercise, meditation, and yoga. Coupling the activity with healthy, nutritional eating and a good night’s sleep gives us healthier ways of managing unpredictable times, like the pandemic.”
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