A global study conducted in 30 countries around the world, examining the impact of coronavirus and of lockdown In terms of health choices related to diet, it found that, while many people are aware of the possible link between obesity and the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, people around the world are steadily gaining weight during the pandemic. Nearly one-third (31%) of the world's population is overweight!

Many (45%) are aware that there is a clear link between obesity and its more serious symptoms COVID-19. To reduce the likelihood of severe COVID-19 symptoms, more people believe that exercise (38%) would help with weight loss (17%).

Of the 45% people worldwide who are trying to lose weight, nearly two-thirds (62%) want to lose weight that was not gained during the pandemic And only 15% of those trying to lose weight are doing so to reduce their risk of COVID-19. The pandemic has led to weight gain, but there are notable variations around the world.

In all 30 countries where the study was conducted, one-third (31%) of the people gained weight since the start of the pandemic. However, the rate of weight gain varies significantly from country to country with more than half of the people gaining weight in Chile and Brazil, (30-40%) and gaining weight in Peru, India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, the U.S., Spain, South Africa, and Turkey, while in China and Hong Kong, fewer than 1 in 10 reported gaining weight.

One-third of the population Globally, they reported that they had gained weight during the pandemic, and the average weight gain was 6.1 kilograms.

On average, people who gained weight during the pandemic (31% of the global population) gained an additional 6.1 kilograms.

The greatest weight gain was observed in Saudi Arabia (an average of 8 kilograms for the 35% of the population that gained weight) and in Mexico (an average of 8.5 kilograms for the 34% that gained weight).

Changes in other behaviors related to lifestyle and health were more subtle and specific. Although globally, more than a quarter (27%) exercised more, 23% exercised less.

Alcohol and Smoking

According to data on weight gain, more than half of the people in China (57%) have been exercising more since the start of the pandemic, however, more than one-third of people in Belgium, Chile, and Italy have been exercising less.

Globally, one in 10 people began drinking more alcohol since the start of the pandemic, while an equal proportion (9%) drank less. However, in the United States and Australia, about one-fifth (20%) of the population drank more alcohol. Meanwhile (likely due to imposed restrictions), one-quarter (24%) of South Africans drank less alcohol.

Changes in his habits smoking changed by a few percentage points worldwide (4% quit smoking and 3% started).

India saw the highest percentage of its population quit smoking at 12%, and Chile had the highest increase in smoking, with one in 10 people taking up the habit during the pandemic.

Symptoms and Obesity

Nearly half (45%) of the global population believes there is a link between obesity and more severe symptoms of COVID-19 among those who contract the virus. This figure rises to 8 in 10 in Peru and to two-thirds (64%) in the United Kingdom.

One-third (31%) do not believe there is a link between obesity and more severe symptoms of COVID-19. This is particularly true in China, where half the population does not believe there is a link between obesity and COVID-19 (53%), while more than 4 in 10 people in Hungary, Italy, South Korea, Malaysia, and Poland are not convinced of this link.

Nearly 4 out of 10 (38%) stated that they believed regular exercise would reduce the risk of experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms for those who have contracted the disease. This was compared to nearly one-third (28%) who said that quitting smoking would help, and about one-quarter (26%) who said that taking vitamin D supplements would help.

17% said they were losing weight, and 1 in 10 (9%) said they had given up alcohol. The potential benefit of exercise was most strongly observed in China, where 8 out of 10 (78%) believed it would help reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms. Many people in Hong Kong and India also see the benefits of exercise in preventing severe COVID-19 symptoms (59% and 58%, respectively).

There were significant differences around the world regarding the belief that vitamin D could help only 1 in 10 people in Japan, Germany, and Australia, where people believed it could help, while this percentage was significantly higher in Hungary and South Africa, where 4 out of 10 people believe that vitamin D could help.

Weight loss was found to reduce the risk of severe symptoms in only 17% of the global population, but this number is significantly higher in Great Britain, where 45% believe that weight loss would help—and notably higher than the next highest percentage in the Low Netherlands, at 34%.

45% of people say they are trying to lose weight

Two-thirds (60%) of people in Chile are trying to lose weight, as are > 50% in Spain, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the U.S. Of those actively seeking to lose weight, one-third (31%) say they want to lose weight gained during the pandemic, but two-thirds (62%) say they want to lose weight that was not gained during the pandemic, and only 15% want to lose weight to reduce the risk of severe symptoms should they contract COVID-19.

One-third of people in Hungary, Malaysia, and Peru want to lose weight specifically to reduce their risk of developing severe symptoms from COVID-19.

Among those who are actively trying to lose weight and are doing so to reduce the risk of serious symptoms if they were to contract COVID-19, one-fifth (19%) said that this is their main motivation for losing weight, and another two-thirds (64%) said that it is important but not their main motivation.