Dutch turn to sweets and cheese in lockdown

And this is borne out by from research by Happy Weight: After a month of lockdown, nearly half of all adult Dutch people have packed on a few pounds.

Apparently, men are having a harder time, as many as one in three men gained one to three kilos (2.2-6.6 lbs) in a month. In total, 49% of those surveyed have gained weight, and while women fare better, they aren’t immune either, as 40% of the ladies are seeing increases on the scales.

More than one in five Dutch people in the opinion survey admit to eating more biscuits and sweets. A slightly lower percentage are indulging in savory snacks such as sausage and cheese. More than 10% eat more at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

And, to make matters worse, the study shows half of all Dutch people have started exercising less since the lockdown.

Stan Van Eck, who develops lifestyle programs for Happy Weight, said, “We eat more and exercise less. Not only are the refrigerator and cookie jar within easy reach all day, sports clubs and fitness centers are closed. Many people make it cozy at home and unfortunately, cosiness is mainly associated with a lot of food and unhealthy snacks. Still other people eat a lot to dampen their emotions.”​

But it’s not all bad news. There are also people who lose weight during the lockdown. Only not so many of them – just 7% of men and 13% of the women lost weight, while 17% of the Dutch have started exercising more and 10% have eaten less.

Van Eck said this is understandable as some people see coronavirus crisis as a signal to live a healthier life.