Not only has the pandemic intervened with us socially, but it has also jeopardized physical health. As a result of stress and increased time spent at home, an unhealthy diet has been much too common for many people. In addition to the closing of gyms and social distancing from friends, the will to exercise is drastically lower. Because of this, 42% of Americans have gained an unexpected amount of weight according to the American Psychological Association.
Mental health has also been a major concern since the beginning of the pandemic. As a consequence of financial stress and other problems created by the virus, anxiety and depression have been on the uprising. The KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) reports, “During the pandemic, a larger than average share of young adults (ages 18-24) report symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder (56%).” Substance use and thoughts of suicide have also severely increased. It is only getting worse, so ignoring these problems is not an option.