Is the economy making you fat?

When 31-year-old Stephanie Keaton couldn't find a job last winter, she didn't freak out — not visibly, at least. But as the months went on and she remained unemployed, the registered nurse, who lives in Queens, N.Y., found herself heading to the fridge each time she thought about her bleak financial situation.

"No surprise that I've put on nearly 30 pounds in the past couple months," she says.

Keaton's hardly alone. One recent survey of over 1,000 Americans revealed that 25 per cent were more likely to eat high-calorie comfort food because of the economic downturn. And doctors, dietitians and trainers report that their clients' waistlines are expanding as they turn to cupcakes, chips and pizza to cope with dwindling bank accounts and investments.

"Several of my clients have confessed they're binging because they're stressed about money. It's a quick pick-me-up, but the end result is weight gain," says Tanya Zuckerbrot, R.D., a dietitian in private practice in New York City.

But reaching for something healthy may be easier said than done. Sociologists, food policy experts and economists have long noted that in most areas of the country, processed food such as candy bars, microwave burritos and ramen noodles is often cheaper than healthy fare. In fact, some fast-food restaurants, like McDonald's, have actually come out ahead in the downturn. The corporation reported sales increases of 5.4 per cent this January, which it attributed largely to the success of its "core menu" (think burgers, fries and soda).

"Let's face it," says Zuckerbrot, "a box of mac and cheese will set you back a lot less than fresh fruit and vegetables. And when you go to a burger joint, a salad with grilled chicken costs twice as much as a value meal."

Caroline Apovian, M.D., director of the Center for Nutrition and Weight Management and director of clinical research for the Obesity Research Center, both at Boston Medical Center, has noticed worsening eating habits among her patients.

"My patients used to be able to keep their weight under control by eating lots of fresh produce and lean protein, and by going to a gym regularly," she explains. "Now they can't afford these things. As a result, they're seeing the numbers on the scale creep up, along with their blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol."

One 21-year-old Washington, D.C., resident who works as a publicist learned this the hard way. "Growing up, I always ate very balanced, healthy meals."

But after taking a low-paying job, she's replaced chicken and fresh greens with frozen meals loaded in fat and sodium, because the latter are far cheaper. "I've paid the price — I've put on 10 pounds in the last four months alone. But I'm doing what I have to in order to cover my housing and car costs."

As eating patterns deteriorate, exercise is also falling by the wayside.

Gym memberships decline sharply

Fitness centers typically see a spike in traffic after the New Year, but treadmills and elliptical machines were alarmingly vacant this January. Although it's too soon to know numbers for 2009, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association reported that gym memberships fell by nearly two million between 2006 and 2008 — the steepest decline in over a decade.

Even scarier proof that Americans are reining in costs: "There's already research showing that fewer people are receiving health care as a result of the current economic crisis," says Aaron Carroll, M.D., director of the Indiana University Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research.

 "Historically, existing conditions and diseases worsen when people go without care."

Translation: If you already have a weight problem, avoiding the scale at the doctor's office could make it much worse.

As for the recent University of North Carolina at Greensboro study showing that some people's health actually improves during a recession? "I'm not sure what population they're referring [to]," says Apovian. "That's not what I'm seeing, nor what I've been hearing from other experts."

Share a trainer, change diet

Still, Apovian is quick to note that an empty wallet doesn't inevitably lead to weight gain either. "There is plenty you can do to stay fit, even if you're feeling pinched," she says.

Can't afford the pricey Equinox membership? Follow Katie Clark's lead. The 23-year-old account executive cut costs by trading StairMaster sessions for walks through her hilly San Francisco neighborhood. Or check out your local YMCA — most are cheaper than national gym chains and many even offer sliding-scale fees. 

'Swap steak and chicken thighs for lean protein choices like beans and eggs, and you'll not only save money but do your waist a favor too.' —Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D.

If you're already using a trainer and reluctant to give that up, Ben Tucker, a spokesman for the National Academy of Sports Medicine, suggests "team[ing] up with a friend so you can split the hourly cost. Most trainers are more than willing to be flexible, especially given these tough times."

And keeping calories in check without blowing your budget isn't as tough as it seems. "Meat is the single most expensive thing Americans consume — and it's often loaded with saturated fat," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D., spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association and author of The Flexitarian Diet.

"Swap steak and chicken thighs for lean protein choices like beans and eggs, and you'll not only save money but do your waist a favor too."

After all, as Zuckerbrot gamely notes, "it's a heck of a lot cheaper to gain weight than it is to lose it."

If nothing else stops you from reaching for another cookie, maybe that thought will.