Strengthening resistance to the COVID-19 pandemic and fostering future resilience requires concerted action on obesity.

Strengthening resistance to the COVID-19 pandemic and fostering future resilience requires concerted action on obesity. Glob Health Action. 2020 Dec 31;13(1):1804700 Authors: Jackson-Morris AM, Nugent R, Ralston J, Barata Cavalcante O, Wilding J Abstract Initial observations showed that people with chronic noncommunicable diseases were at heightened risk of severe COVID-19 and adverse outcomes. Subsequently, data from various countries have revealed obesity as an independent and significant factor, with people who are overweight/have obesity significantly more likely to be hospitalized, require ICU treatment, and to die. Notably, this additional risk applies to younger people relative to the general COVID-19 risk profile. This paper sets out the evidence of greater risk of poor COVID outcomes for people who are overweight/have obesity, indication of reduced treatment and support for obesity self-management where it existed prior to COVID-19, and highlights the dearth of specific guidance and measures to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 upon people with obesity. We identify the health, social and economic impacts that this specific vulnerability creates relative to COVID-19 outcomes. Reduced national and global pandemic resilience due to high obesity prevalence should spur governments and funders to provide urgent specific protection and support for people with overweight/obesity, and to commission rapid research to identify effective...
Source: Global Health Action - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Tags: Glob Health Action Source Type: research