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

Jackson-Morris, Angela M, Nugent, Rachel, Ralston, Johanna, Barata Cavalcante, Olivia and Wilding, John ORCID: 0000-0003-2839-8404 (2020) Strengthening resistance to the COVID-19 pandemic and fostering future resilience requires concerted action on obesity. Global Health Action, 13 (1). p. 1804700.

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2020.1804700

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 prevention and reduction measures. We set out priorities for action on obesity to begin compensating for years of underfunding and inadequate policy attention in the face of escalating obesity across countries of all income groups and world regions.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	COVID-19, obesity, noncommunicable diseases, resilience, metabolic disease, LMIC, recommendations, global action
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	15 Sep 2020 08:07
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 23:33
DOI:	10.1080/16549716.2020.1804700
Open Access URL:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16549...
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3101244