Just under a third of Canadians say they have become familiar with what appears to be one of the COVID-19 pandemic’s collateral effects — weight gain.

A new study by the Association for Canadian Studies finds 32 per cent of respondents said they have gained weight since March, while 15 per cent said they lost weight over that time.

The survey suggests there is a link between weight gain and fear of COVID-19.

Forty-six per cent of respondents who said they are very afraid of COVID-19 gained weight during the pandemic, with many saying they have been exercising less and eating more.

The online survey of 1,516 Canadians was conducted Oct. 29-31.