Hungarians’ obesity is getting worse?

According to a recent survey, both genders are obese compared to the 2019 state of things. Women have gained 8 pounds, while men have gained 6 pounds since the coronavirus epidemic began. Now, 62 per cent of the adult Hungarian population is considered overweight or obese.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected both society and the individual. The outbreak of the epidemic in 2019 has greatly changed people’s lives. The financial difficulties associated with the economic downturn, the lack of social connections, the loneliness caused by quarantine are just some of the lifestyle changes caused by the coronavirus epidemic.

These may be indirectly related to population obesity. As a result, the proportion of overweight people in Hungary has increased by 7 per cent since 2019. Women gained an average of 4 kilogrammes, while men gained 3 kilogrammes during quarantine, writes hvg.hu.

62 per cent of the adult population is overweight or obese.

This is a huge change over a short period of 2 years. Obesity is a serious problem anyway, which can cause many health issues. Being overweight is also a significant risk factor for the coronavirus disease. Among women, 33 per cent are overweight, and 25 per cent are obese. The proportion of overweight men is 39 per cent, while that of obese men is 28 per cent.

According to a recent survey, the proportion of overweight and obese people increases with age. Examining the predominance, the rate is 27 per cent for those aged 18-39, 37 per cent for those aged 40-59, and 44 per cent for those over 60. The research used body mass index (BMI) as the basis of comparison. The research compared the pre-epidemic and current BMI data according to the weight classification recommended by the WHO, writes trademagazin.hu.

The two main causes of obesity are lack of physical activity and malnutrition.

Mónika Mező, a dietary supplement expert and the head of Peakshop.hu, who is doing the research, believes that sports opportunities and motivation have also decreased due to quarantine. She added that being overweight can be effectively overcome by developing small habits and changing lifestyles. Improper diet is often only a temporary solution.