THE EFFECT OF

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

ON A PERSON’S OVERALL HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING

JOANA RAMIREZ
H E A LT H - 3 0 0 : N U T R I T I O N E X E R C I S E A N D W E L L N E S S
DEC 05, 2020
 WHAT IS COVID-19?
(CDC, 2020)

• COVID-19 is a strain of the coronavirus which

was first identified in Wuhan China in 2019.
• This particular strain was named COVID-19, the
CO is for Corona, the VI is for VIRUS and the D
is for Disease, 19 is for the year it was identified.
• This particular strain of coronavirus spreads
from person to person through droplets and
particles of the infected person.
• The virus enters the body through the airways
nose, mouth and eyes.
• Droplets can also live on surfaces and therefore a
person can become infected by touching eyes,
mouth or nose after coming in contact with an
infected surface.
Figure 1. Coronavirus. Obtained from CDC image
library (CDC, 2020).
Symptoms include the following but are not limited to mild to no
symptoms. COVID-19 information is still in development.
C O R O N AV I R U S
SYMPTOMS
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or
difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Figure 2. obtained from CDC 2020 Coronavirus Disease Diarrhea
images Data obtained from CDC, 2020
 STAY AT HOME ORDER
AFFECT ON HEALTH
The “stay at home” orders have disrupted many
every day lives: sleep cycle, diet structure, routines
and physical activity have contributed to the
following:

• 22% of adults gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Of those who gained weight, gained an estimated 5-10 pounds
• 73% of those who gained weight increased eating due to cravings
• 52% of people attributed eating more due to the pandemic
• Only 4% of subjects in the study decreased weight by more than 10 pounds.
• Overall, this study determined those who maintained or lost weight attributed this to
restrain of eating.
• Overall, weight gain was attributed to snacking after dinner, craved foods due to
smells and lack of sleep
Data obtained from: (Ziegler, 2020).
 STAY AT HOME ORDER
AFFECT ON
OVERALL BEHAVIOR

Mental Health Statistics post and during COVID-

19
90
• Symptoms of anxiety jumped from 6.33% Post COVID-19
During COVID-19
80
to 50.9%
70
• depression from 14.6% to 48.3% 60

• post-traumatic stress disorder 7% to 50

53.8% 40

30
• psychological distress 34.43% to 38%
20
• stress 8.1% to 81.9% 10

0
Anx Psy Dist... St

Figure 3. Mental Health Statistics post and

Statistics Obtained from (Xiong, 2020) during COVID-19. Statistics obtained from a
study conducted (Xiong, 2020)
 Data was obtained from 12 studies in relation to mental health
and the pandemic, this is what they determined:
Risk of depression has more than one factor, income, education,
relationship status, employment, gender

HOW HAS THIS • Females are more likely to report with depressive symptoms
PANDEMIC AFFECTED • Subjects under the age of 40 are most likely to present with
SPECIFIC depressive symptoms
POPULATIONS? • Students are at higher risk in comparison to graduates in an
occupation
• Those in lower education levels are the most affected
• One particular study determined that people in higher
education, higher job occupations are impacted more than
those in service industries

Data based on data obtained from:

(Xiong, 2020)
 COPING MECHANISMS VERSUS DENIAL TACTICS DURING THE PANDEMIC

“Coping is the process of responding effectively to problems and

challenges. To cope well is to respond to the threat in ways that
minimize its damaging impact” (Haslam, 2020).

C O P IN G S T R AT E G IE S D E N I A L ( D IS T R A C T IO N )
TA C T I CS
• Meditation (yoga, prayer)
• Humor (laughter) • Excessive Alcohol
• Healthy diet • Substance abuse
• Physical Activity • Denial of stress
• Good sleep patterns • Excessive eating
• New or existing hobbies • Over exposure to media, binge watching
• Limit media use tv, news, social media
• Stay in contact with loved ones via: zoom, • Avoiding human interactions
text, phone, safe social gatherings Information based on information obtained from:
(Haslam, 2020)
 NEW TRENDS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED
DURING THIS PANDEMIC IN RELATION TO
FITNESS, DIET & WELLNESS?

At home Virtual Work

Gyms YOGA Outs

Cooking and
Baking in home
dining

Figure 4: Obtained from (Haslam, Figure 5: Obtained from

2020) (Lindholm & Smith)
 HEALTH STATISTICS INCREASE AND DECREASE

IN C R E A S E D
•35% of adults are more obese than before the pandemic. (Almandoz,
2020),
•49.5% stockpile food and supplies but feel more food secure
(Almandoz, 2020),
•63.8% cook more (Almandoz, 2020),
•27.2% bake more (Almandoz, 2020),
•27% of alcohol sales have increased, (Bote, 2020)
•Overall alcohol consumption is up 14%, (Searing, 2020).
•Women are up 17% on alcohol consumption(Searing, 2020).
•Unemployment rate is up 9.3% (EDD, 2020).
DECREASED
•47.9% decrease exercise activities (Almandoz, 2020),
•55.8% decrease intense exercise (Almandoz, 2020),
•69.6% decrease achievement of goals (Almandoz, 2020),
•20-30% decrease in air pollution (fewer cars), (Hill,
2020).
•Reduction in STD’s, (Hill, 2020).
•Reduction in traffic collisions, (Hill, 2020).
•Decreased trauma visits to the hospital, (Hill, 2020).

• (U.S. OBESITY)

Data Obtained from: (Almandoz, 2020), (Hill, 2020), (EDD,

2020)
 1 0 T I PS TO H EL P TH E OV ER A L L P HY S IC A L A ND M ENTA L H EA L TH

• 1. Make realistic goals (day by day, weekly, monthly)

• 2. Eat healthy (enjoy food, cook at home with your bubble)
• 3. Exercise (enjoy a nice walk, hike, yoga, cycle)
• 4. Check in with friends and family (schedule zoom calls, facetime, call text, stay connected)
• 5. Meditate, pray (find a healthy release outlet, spiritual guidance, counsel)
• 6. Save money when possible (reduces financial stress, set financial goals)
• 7. Avoid stressful commitments (don’t take on more than you can handle)
• 8. Reduce or avoid alcohol consumption and drugs (although alcohol can bring pleasure,
recognizing when alcohol is for coping and dependance is key to remaining healthy)
• 9. Pick up hobbies (take on home projects, DIY, nail art, cooking, baking, paint, draw, cosmetics,
fitness)
• 10. Live with a purpose, enjoy life (Wake up with a purpose, don’t sweat the small things)

Information based on information

obtained from: (Haslam, 2020)
 REFLECTION

“People’s ability to effectively respond to stressors varies considerably. It should be

acknowledged that maladaptive stress responses can sometimes be inadequate, or excessive
and/or of prolonged reactions which may lead to disease”, (Bujeji, 2020).

Overall, we are living in unprecedented times. It is important to acknowledge the problem (COVID-
19) because denial can bring harm. The effects of the pandemic can bring harm upon us when we fail
to have a healthy plan in place or fail to acknowledge the problem. Positive well-being outcomes are
improved with alertness, having a plan in place and staying connected with loved ones. Going forward
my plan in place will implement the coping mechanisms of slide 5.
 REFERENCES:
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 REFERENCES:
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Nick Haslam Professor of Psychology. (2020, October 4). Am I coping well during the pandemic? The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/am-i-coping-well-

during-the-pandemic-146570.

Searing, L. (2020, October 5). Americans say they're drinking alcohol 14 percent more often in the pandemic . The Washington Post.

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