Illustration of a person taking their waistline.

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  • One year after the entry into force of the confinement, decreed on March 17, 2020 to fight against the Covid-19 epidemic,

    20 Minutes is

     interested in the consequences of the past twelve months on the lives of French people.

    And especially that of young people.

  • Our #MoiJeune 20 Minutes - OpinionWay barometer focused in particular on the lifestyle of 18-30 year olds.

    Result: 39% of young people say they have gained weight for a year, when 23% have done less sport and 18% have stopped altogether.

  • It is not easy, in fact, to keep the figure when food becomes one of the only pleasures of everyday life and the possibilities of playing sports are limited.

Friday night pizza, a little ice cream in front of the TV, a beer to cheer up ... A year after the first confinement, the small pleasures of mid-life in curfew or in confinement often boil down to gourmets or alcoholic.

Enough to treat (in moderation) his mind, but not necessarily his belly.

Result: many French people read on their scales the impact of one year of Covid-19.

Even the youngest.

39% of young people surveyed gained weight

According to our #MoiJeune 20 Minutes - OpinionWay * barometer, 68% of 18-30 year olds have seen their weight change since the crisis.

In more detail, 39% of the young people questioned gained weight during this “annus horribilis”;

7% significantly and 32% moderately.

On the Facebook page of our group Moi Jeune, Benyamin testifies and does not hide that loneliness and lack of sport have not helped to keep the figure.

“I was cycling and badminton.

Badminton is closed.

Cycling, it was not possible during confinement, he explains.

I gained 3 kg during the 1st confinement (done with my parents, being careful), almost 20 kg since October by being alone, being less careful and working.

"

"Many would go for a run after leaving work"

This overweight is therefore combined with a scarcity of sports activities.

Still according to our barometer, 23% of 18-30 year olds surveyed have done less sport for a year.

And 18% have completely stopped.

No wonder when team sports remain prohibited for adults and in view of the last gray and cold months, not very conducive to jogging for the bravest ...

"To which has been added the curfew from 6 p.m. for months," recalls Vanessa Bedjaï-Haddad, nutritionist and dietitian in Paris.

Many young people would go for a run after leaving work.

»Additional difficulty: closing sports halls.

"I have never been athletic and I am unable to do it at home (I have tried so many times), but after confinement, I felt in all the fibers of my body the need to move, explains Chloe.

I joined a gym last summer and it was really great!

I did several sessions a week and felt really good.

Then second confinement and since then nothing.

I had made so much progress, it's like having taken a big stop.

"

In jogging, we feel less weight

For Vanessa Bedjaï-Haddad, there have really been two phases in this long year.

"

A first in the spring, when young people were able to lose weight.

Fewer bars, restaurants, drinking opportunities.

There was the excitement of the unknown, the desire to cook… ”And not to let go of the half hour of ab-glutes in front of the screen or jogging in the evening.

“But very quickly, when this new rhythm set in, I noticed a weariness, and many young people began to order their meals,” continues the dietician.

Eating has become a comfort and the only source of distraction.

"

Even with good will, it is therefore not easy not to fall for it.

“I try to be careful and take the time to do more cooking,” says Astrid.

But I admit having my little glass of wine some evenings for morale.

I still gained 3 kg.

And who says food also means sociability.

"We will walk less because with the mask, it is less pleasant," she emphasizes.

When we meet, it's to eat.

The new hobby is gluttony!

“Proof, according to her, of this new trend: the success of bubble tea, pastry and sweets shops, where young people flock.

Especially with telework and online courses, young people walk less and less.

And have a lot of opportunities to nibble ... "When you're jogging all day, you feel less weight settling, laughs Vanessa Bedjaï-Haddad.

I hear a lot in my office "I did not see them coming".

"

"You have extenuating circumstances"

But the dietician assures us: it only takes a little to regain a little balance.

Choose a poke bowl or a salad instead of a pizza when you order, walk daily, take the stairs, eat light when you do less sport ... "The speech must not be too anxiety-provoking, with food or sport: you have extenuating circumstances, it is not easy for anyone ”.

According to her, this moderately healthy year for many French people, especially young people, is not likely to cause long-term damage.

“The pounds are lost.

As long as you get back to sport when you can.

And not to get discouraged or set the bar too high.

"

And for the dietician, hope is safe because there has been a real awareness, in recent years, about healthy living in youth.

“Some people have bad habits, but knowingly.

It is a first step.

Children are made aware at school, through television.

This awareness will protect this generation from excess.

For the moment, it is not obvious.

But the important thing is that these bad habits don't set in.

"

* Study #MoiJeune 20 Minutes - OpinionWay conducted online from February 25 to 26, 2021 with a representative sample of 695 young people aged 18 to 30 (quota method).

If you are between 18 and 30 years old, you can participate in the “#MoiJeune” project, a series of surveys launched by 

20 Minutes 

and built with and for young people.

All the information to register online here.

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  • Overweight

  • Youth

  • Confinement

  • Covid 19

  • Coronavirus

  • Health