Obesity increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and other health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers.

"One of the most prevalent conditions in this country and around the world is increased weight and obesity," says Dr. Donald Hensrud, director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. "Approximately 70% of Americans are either overweight or have obesity. This is not easy to reverse. There are hundreds of things that influence what we eat, our physical activity and our weight."

The definition of overweight is having a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9. A BMI of 30 or greater is classified as obese.

"During COVID-19, we've taken previous challenges to managing weight to another level. During the pandemic, fitness centers have been shut down, our activity may be decreasing, or we may be working from home and not moving as much," says Dr. Hensrud. "In addition, our diet has changed. We may be eating more comfort food or eating what happens to be around the house rather than getting something that is healthier."

Watch: Dr. Donald Hensrud discusses obesity.

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites are available in the downloads at the end of post. Please "Courtesy: Donald Hensrud, M.D./Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program/Mayo Clinic."

Dr. Hensrud recommends trying to get some activity every day in addition to following a healthy diet. It can be as simple as taking a walk. For those working at home, Dr. Hensrud recommends taking a break every 30 minutes to move.

Making small changes can make a big difference. Dr. Hensrud says following a healthy diet, as outlined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans can help people to manage their weight and improve their health in the process.

The core elements for a healthy diet pattern include plenty of nutrient-dense foods that have little added sugars, saturated fat and sodium, such as:

• Vegetables of all types, including dark green; red and orange; beans, peas and lentils; and starchy.
• Fruits, especially whole fruit.
• Grains, at least half of which are whole grain.
• Dairy, including fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese, as well as lactose-free versions, and fortified soy beverages and yogurt, as alternatives.
• Protein, including lean meats, poultry, and eggs; seafood; beans, peas and lentils; and nuts, seeds and soy products.
• Oils, including vegetable oils and oils in food, such as seafood and nuts.
  

Skip fad diets

"This time of year, many people are looking to lose weight, and they have New Year's resolutions. Oftentimes, people will go on a diet that may be unsustainable over time. People can lose weight if they only eat 500 calories from jelly beans, but that isn't sustainable or healthy, obviously. Following the dietary guidelines can help people establish a pattern of eating that is practical, enjoyable, sustainable and can help them manage their weight."

Establishing healthy eating habits takes time and patience. "On a practical basis, I can't emphasize enough that eating a healthy diet does not have to be drudgery," Dr. Hensrud says. "It should be enjoyable. There's a lot of great food out there. It should be practical. We don't have to spend hours in the kitchen."

Related topics:

• Making Mayo’s Recipes: Sneaking whole grains into your diet
• Making Mayo’s Recipes: 5 ways to create healthy recipes
• Making Mayo’s Recipes: Six grain hot cereal

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