By Sampada Anuranjanee Khatiwada

Kathmandu, May 27: As our lives have been limited within our homes, the lockdown has brought about a lot of changes in our lifestyle, both good and bad.
While many people are seen opting for a productive and healthy lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic, the lockdown has also led to a risk of increase in lifestyle diseases as well, obesity not being an exception.
The sudden and unprecedented change in the world has brought people’s lives to a standstill, taking a heavy toll on their mental health and eating habits.
“I have always been slightly overweight for my age and height. The doctors have said that I was at high risk of being obese if I didn’t control my diet,” said Sulav Rana, 17. “But the whole COVID-19 scare and lockdown isn’t helping me at all. As I have nothing to do at home, I am either cooking snacks, sleeping or binge watching movies and series.”
Rana said that he had already gained 5 kilos during the lockdown. “Although I am well aware that having an unhealthy eating pattern and eating junks will be affecting my health, I am not able to stop it as eating makes me feel relaxed while being bothered by disheartening news about the virus.”
Like Rana, many people have been complaining about how the lockdown has had a bad effect on their health and lifestyle.
“As it has been over 60 days that we’ve been locked inside our homes, passing time has been difficult. Cooking and trying out new dishes has been therapeutic during the pandemic to keep our minds occupied,” said Sneha KC, 39, a housewife.
But eating more than the body needs has become a problem in my family. Eating fried foods, junks and a lot of wheat flour has increased the risk of obesity. Both of my kids have put on weight after the lockdown started.
“As my family has become used to eating more than four meals a day, I am afraid that binge eating would have a negative impact on our health,” said KC. “Although I have been trying to make my kids eat healthier, they’re always more inclined towards eating junks.”
The lockdown has triggered an increase in many lifestyle diseases and mental health, the doctors say.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is set to give rise to many diseases other than the virus infection itself,” said Dr Prakash Budathoky, a psychiatrist. “Obesity could be one of the problems for many people in post-pandemic days.”
“As Nepal has been in a full-fledged lockdown for the last two months, people have a lot of spare time. Many people are seen opting for cooking and eating to keep their mind occupied,” said Dr Budathoky. “While cooking and learning new recipes is a productive way to spend time, I wouldn’t say the same for eating.”
Due to the lockdown, people’s mobility has also come to a halt. People used to hit the gym or exercise on a daily basis. The lockdown has stopped that too. Thus, eating multiple times a day and not exercising at all will definitely lead to some serious lifestyle diseases, he added.
Dr Budhathoky also said that gaining weight and obesity would indirectly affect on mental health. Being overweight might lower one’s self-esteem, thereby leading to inferiority complex.
Cutting out on junks and fried foods, eating healthy foods and exercising on a regular basis is a must to ensure a healthy lifestyle and avoiding disease of any kind in the future, he said.