5 health tips

 10 TIPS FOR MAINTAINING A HEALTHY 

LIFESTYLE AND BODY WEIGHT 

Yiqing Song, Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Fairbanks School of Public Health

At this extreme moment, we began working from home, away from campus, and keeping social distance for as many 

people as possible. As we stay home and are stuck with the foods that have been in our fridge or pantry for a while, 

we are temporarily living a sedentary lifestyle with increased odds of physical inactivity, excessive eating and sitting, 

stress, anxiety, and depression. In particular, many of us will gain some weight during the pandemic and may keep the 

extra weight permanently, which may carry considerable health risks for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, 

stroke, and other health problems. 

Here, I’d like to share some basic tips and resources for how to maintain your healthy lifestyle, body weight, and 

overall well-being while staying home and engaging in social distancing. 

1. Measure and Watch Your Weight 

Keeping track of your body weight on a daily or weekly basis will help you see what you’re losing and/or what 

you’re gaining.

2. Limit Unhealthy Foods and Eat Healthy Meals

Do not forget to eat breakfast and choose a nutritious meal with more protein and fiber and less fat, sugar, and 

calories. For more information on weight-control foods and dietary recommendations, please check the following 

website: www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/diet-and-weight/.

3. Take Multivitamin Supplements 

To make sure you have sufficient levels of nutrients, taking a daily multivitamin supplement is a good idea, 

especially when you do not have a variety of vegetables and fruits at home. Many micronutrients are vital to your 

immune system, including vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, and E, as well as zinc, iron, copper, selenium, and magnesium. 

However, there’s currently NO available evidence that adding any supplements or “miracle mineral supplements” 

to your diet will help protect you from the virus or increase recovery. In some cases, high doses of vitamins can be 

bad for your health. 

4. Drink Water and Stay Hydrated, and Limit Sugared Beverages 

Drink water regularly to stay healthy, but there is NO evidence that drinking water frequently (e.g. every 15 

minutes) can help prevent any viral infection. For more information on drinking water and coronavirus, please 

check the following EPA website: www.epa.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-drinking-water-and-wastewater.

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