Stress, anxiety, boredom and an excess of food in the kitchen pantry led to overeating in many households across America over the last 12 months. We all moved less and consumed more and traded in skinny jeans for athleisure. So, it’s no surprise our waistlines are just a little bit thicker.

We’ve coined the phrase “COVID 15” in jest, but the reality is, 15 pounds might be an understatement. In fact, in March of 2021, The New York Times reported that studies estimate Americans gained approximately two pounds per month during quarantine. That adds up to roughly 20-25 pounds over the course of a year.

Meanwhile, Healthline reports that as of this month, 61% of Americans surveyed indicated they had gained weight during quarantine. Healthline says that “according to the new APA (American Psychological Association) survey, 2 in 5 of the 3,000 adults surveyed gained more weight than they intended over the last year, at an average of 29 pounds per person. Ten percent said they gained more than 50 pounds.”

While the exact number of people who gained weight is unclear, and while the average number of pounds gained is debatable, one thing is certain. It is time to reverse course. A year later, as restrictions begin to lift, vaccinations are issued and we all begin life in the new normal, Americans need to get healthy again.

Employers can do their part by incorporating health & wellness programs into their employee engagement efforts. This can include everything from offering nutrition classes to virtual workouts and from supervised weight loss competitions to fitness-related employee rewards. We can all use a little support in shedding those COVID 15 (err, 20) pounds. Brands like the below can go a long way in motivating participants mentally while helping them break a sweat.

Gaiam: For more than 25 years, Gaiam has been the #1 innovator of premium yoga mats, yoga props, yoga clothing, and yoga accessories, inspiring fitness and yoga DVDs.

Bowflex: Bowflex offers a full lineup of indoor cycling bikes, Max Trainers, Home Gyms, treadmills, adjustable dumbbells, and more. Designed by a mix of fitness pros and beginners, ex-athletes, band geeks, obstacle course racers, dog walkers, joggers, moms, dads, millennials, boomers, bikers, and hikers, Bowflex creates machines that get you results as quickly and efficiently as possible, so you can get on with your day and live healthier, happier, and better life.

Jaybird: Jaybird works with professional runners and endurance athletes to develop ultra-comfortable, ultra-secure, wireless athletic earbuds that uses interchangeable components to offer a customizable fit for nearly any ear size. Durable, sweat- and weather-resistant, Jaybird buds can survive high-intensity training, unexpected weather, and the rigors of day-in, day-out use, all while offering an incredible sound.

Hydra Peak: HydraPeak’s lightweight bottles are double walled, vacuum insulated, and copper lined to keep your drinks cold for 24 hours, and hot for 12 hours. Spills will never slow you down because all Hydra Peak bottles are spill proof and sweat-free.

Tacx: Tacx offers a variety of high-quality bike trainers including a basic trainer, an interactive smart trainer, and training apps to bring reality to your rides. Now part of the Garmin family, Tacx App Integrates with Garmin Connect, seamlessly offering one platform to access and view all your indoor and outdoor cycling activities.

Soundcore: Soundcore uses innovation, experience, and pioneering listener analysis to create products that revolutionize expectations for audio quality. Offering a wide range of headphones, earbuds and speakers, Soundcore’s ‘Play’ buttons don’t just start incredible music, they also reveal the truth: Breathtaking sound that moves, touches, and thrills is no longer an exclusive privilege.

Solé Bikes: Whether cruising from the office to the beach, the coffee shop to campus, or just taking a lazy Saturday ride with friends, Solé believes that your bicycle is a vital accessory.  It’s not about “going for a bike ride” but more so “living a life by bike”.

To learn more about these brands or other brands that can help your program participants lead healthier lifestyles, contact us today.