Prolonged COVID-19 pandemic leading to weight gain
- 4 years ago
코로나19 탓에 2명 중 1명은 연초 대비 평균 4.9kg 체중 늘어
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, strict social distancing measures have meant people in South Korea have been unable to exercise and move around as much as they'd like,... as sports facilities have been closed, and many have been forced to work from home.
It's being dubbed 'corona kilos' as plenty of people have been packing on the pounds over the past several months.
Bae Eun-ji tells us more.
Before the pandemic, this woman used to walk quite a lot communiting to work.
But now she works from home three days a week, so she hasn't been getting as much exercise.
"I used to take a zumba class. But I stopped two months ago because I thought it would be dangerous to work out in such a crowded space indoors."
She's gained four kilos in the past two months.
It's partly the lack of exercise, but it's also more delivery food.
Before the pandemic she had a healthy diet,... but with delivery food she's been eating too many carbs.
An online survey in South Korea of 820 people... found that more than half had gained weight in the pandemic, and the average amount was 4-point-9 kilos.
This man used to work out almost everyday, playing tennis on the weekend and going to the gym on weekdays after work.
But all this has become impossible.
"Even though the daily cases are down to 50, it could always go back. And I work in the Gangnam area, where there are a lot of people, and there's a lot of new cases in that area. It's still worrisome for me to workout at the gym."
He's gained two kilos... and was recently diagnosed with abdominal obesity.
So he decided to try working out at home by renting a video game console that helps him exercise using a motion sensor.
"We've just started it about two days ago. I thought it wasn't going to help very much, but after a day or two, it does work you out."
Half a year into the pandemic, people have found new ways of doing things, including exercise, but the hope is, sooner rather than later, they can all feel safe going back to the gym.
Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, strict social distancing measures have meant people in South Korea have been unable to exercise and move around as much as they'd like,... as sports facilities have been closed, and many have been forced to work from home.
It's being dubbed 'corona kilos' as plenty of people have been packing on the pounds over the past several months.
Bae Eun-ji tells us more.
Before the pandemic, this woman used to walk quite a lot communiting to work.
But now she works from home three days a week, so she hasn't been getting as much exercise.
"I used to take a zumba class. But I stopped two months ago because I thought it would be dangerous to work out in such a crowded space indoors."
She's gained four kilos in the past two months.
It's partly the lack of exercise, but it's also more delivery food.
Before the pandemic she had a healthy diet,... but with delivery food she's been eating too many carbs.
An online survey in South Korea of 820 people... found that more than half had gained weight in the pandemic, and the average amount was 4-point-9 kilos.
This man used to work out almost everyday, playing tennis on the weekend and going to the gym on weekdays after work.
But all this has become impossible.
"Even though the daily cases are down to 50, it could always go back. And I work in the Gangnam area, where there are a lot of people, and there's a lot of new cases in that area. It's still worrisome for me to workout at the gym."
He's gained two kilos... and was recently diagnosed with abdominal obesity.
So he decided to try working out at home by renting a video game console that helps him exercise using a motion sensor.
"We've just started it about two days ago. I thought it wasn't going to help very much, but after a day or two, it does work you out."
Half a year into the pandemic, people have found new ways of doing things, including exercise, but the hope is, sooner rather than later, they can all feel safe going back to the gym.
Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.