The 10 cities that packed on pounds in lockdown – and the weight loss hotspots revealed
WHETHER its spending less time outdoors or easier access to the kitchen, plenty of us have noticed our jeans are a little tighter now than they were before lockdown.
In fact, almost half of Brits say they've put on the dreaded "corona-stone" of between seven and 14 pounds during the 12-week lockdown.
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And new research has revealed the cities where people have admitted to putting on weight - as well as those who've managed to lose it.
Newport in South Wales was the city where 62 per cent of people said they had gained between 7lb and a stone during lockdown.
This was followed by half of those in Dudley and 48 per cent in Glasgow, according to a recent survey of 2,000 Brits.
For 45 per cent of people, increased snacking and mindless eating was to blame for their weight gain.
While crisps and chocolate were the go-to snacks of choice for the nation during the long weeks of quarantine.
Top 10 UK cities where people lost weight during lockdown
- Aberdeen - 27%
- Derby - 26%
- Carlisle and Leicester - 21%
- Walsall - 20%
- Wolverhampton - 19%
- Oxford and Coventry - 18%
- Belfast and Leeds - 17%
- Swansea - 16%
- Norwich - 15%
- Birmingham - 13%
The survey, by Love Fresh Cherries, asked 2,000 people how their eating habits evolved from March 23 - the first day of lockdown - and June 15.
It also found that Brits started out with good intentions with 56 per cent getting creative in the kitchen and trying at least six new recipes in the first two weeks of lockdown.
A masterful six per cent said they tried more than 25 new recipes in an attempt to keep mealtimes fresh and interesting during lockdown.
But the early wave of cooking excitement and experimentation quickly wore off.
By week seven - in early May - Brits had hit their culinary creative peak with 63 per cent of the nation feeling "far less enthusiastic" about rustling up another dish, while 12 per cent said they were "completely over" cooking.
Chocolate cake was the dish people got bored of the most with 32 per cent making it just once before their households had had enough.
Rob Hobson, Love Fresh Cherries nutritionist, said: “Lockdown provided the perfect environment for people to embrace an unhealthy way of eating.
Snacking has been one of the biggest challenges for people during lockdown
Rob Hobson
"If you’re going to adopt one simple change to the way you eat after lockdown then eating more fruit and veg is definitely your best option.
"Snacking has been one of the biggest challenges for people during lockdown so why not try making the most out of the British cherry season which is in full swing right now.
"Cherries are low in calories and a healthy way to satisfy a sweet tooth as well as supporting your overall health and wellbeing."
Rob suggests swapping banana bread for cherry bread if you're looking for a home baked sweet treat.
"Cherry and chocolate are perfect flavour buddies so why not try combining the two to create a healthy alternative to sugar laden chocolate cake," he added.
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Matt Hancock, chairman of Love Fresh Cherries, said: “Eating, baking, cooking and having dinner with family became such a key part of our lockdown lives.
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"Our research confirms that keeping those dishes fresh and interesting every mealtime was important to people, but increasingly challenging."
For more ideas on quirky cherry recipes to curb your sweet tooth, visit the website.