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Traci Mann, Introduction to the Special Section: New Directions in Obesity and Eating Research, Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Volume 55, Issue 8, August 2021, Pages 705–707, https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaab059
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About 40% of adults were categorized as obese and an additional 30% categorized as overweight in the USA prior to the COVID-19 pandemic [1], and the pandemic appears to have exacerbated weight gain. Over 40% of respondents to a nationally representative survey reported that they gained unintended weight (an average of 29 pounds) during the first year of the pandemic [2]. In addition to increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, multiple studies have shown that individuals with obesity have more severe COVID outcomes than individuals with lower weights [3]. Scientists in the field of behavioral medicine, with their multidisciplinary focus encompassing biomedical and behavioral science, are uniquely situated to address issues of weight, as weight is multiply determined. People’s weight is based on genetics, human behavior, stress and psychological processes, proximal situational factors (such as the presence of tempting unhealthy foods or other eaters), and broader structural factors (such as socioeconomic status and poverty).