Gained a few pounds the last few months? Pandemic overeating is a real thing

You’ve probably heard of the freshman 15, the pounds students gain during their first year at college. But have you heard of the pandemic 15?

A lot of people have reported overeating since the "stay at home" order was issued at the end of March.

"Pandemic eating is definitely a real thing," said M Health Fairview weight management expert Dr. Kai Tuominen.

He’s not surprised we’ve been stocking up on food we don’t need.

"The first evolution was those two to three weeks of people just being blown out of their routines" said Tuominen. "For the first time we had the concept of scarcity when the lockdown happened. And people didn’t know what that meant."

You know that run on toilet paper that didn’t make any sense? Tuominen says the same thing happened with junk food.

"As we’ve all found out, some of that hoarding wasn’t necessary," he said. "But now it’s sitting there staring at us."

And that can create temptation.

"Those cookies sure taste good when I’m feeling stressed out. Or that ice cream is especially delicious when I’m feeling down" he said.

According to Tuominen, there’s a chemical reaction in the brain when we eat food we enjoy.

"There’s a reason sometimes people will moan when they eat something delicious," he said. "It fires off those neurochemicals that promote pleasure. And the more and more we push that button, the more it seems to want."

What is Tuominen telling patients who want to lose weight? "When a person feels they’re ready, then routine becomes essential."

Here’s his advice:

• Find a new schedule for sleep, meals and exercise and stick to it.
• Remove the temptations of unhealthy food and replace it with good nutrition, such as lean protein and healthy fats.
• Keep a journal to see how your new meals and exercise impact your hunger, weight and mood.
• And be determined to reach your goal.

"A desire to make a change just has to be there," Tuominen said. "If we can at least lower the environment of temptation a little bit, it’s a little easier to step away."

He’s seeing a change with his patients.

"There seems to have been in the last few weeks a little transition," Tuominen said. "The phrase I hear a lot is, ‘I’m kind of snapping out of it,’ or ‘getting back on track,’ or ‘trying to find the new routine in this new normal.’ We’re entering into that best time of year in Minnesota for at least adding in that coping mechanism called exercise. Once we start to find our sweet spot the weight can come off."

Tuominen says two-thirds of Americans struggle with extra weight. For many it’s a chronic disease and finding the right tools can make all the difference for improving your health.

If you are struggling, he encourages you to reach out for help. Starting a conversation with your personal physician is a good first step.

For those with a BMI over 30 or health issues related to their weight and a BMI over 27.5, then medical supported weight loss is indicated and consultation is available. Most insurance plans cover medical supported weight loss consultations for those meeting the criteria.

Tuominen works for the M Health Fairview Comprehensive Weight Management program.

There are also patient education documents available through the Obesity Society, and for those interested in bariatric surgery, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has more information.