COVID-19 and Obesity: What You Need to Know

Currently, the Ministry of Health lists 11 possible health conditions for immediate vaccination against COVID-19. These conditions include high blood pressure, both forms of diabetes, and all types of cancer. Another condition is on the list. It’s obese. Not very popular with many, but very important but overlooked.

Obesity and COVID-19

The onslaught of the COVID-19 virus has significantly changed the direction of medical management. For chronic diseases such as obesity, it was both a challenge and an opportunity to be identified because of its vulnerability to the virus. Globally, about 22% of people have reported weight gains of 5 to 10 pounds since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, according to the National Institutes of Health. According to WHO, there are many causes for this widespread weight gain. Inability to walk anywhere, inaccessibility to gyms and sports facilities, and uncontrolled snacks as a way to manage stress and anxiety all cause a great many people to gain weight. As a result, those who become healthy again become overweight, and those who are overweight become obese.

This has serious implications in the pandemic context for people living with obesity. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obese people are at a much higher risk of serious symptoms from COVID-19 if they get sick. Obese patients often have reduced vital capacity, more difficult ventilation, and further reduced blood oxygen levels. Most surprisingly, obesity triples the need for hospitalization with COVID-19.

According to a survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) of the Ministry of Science and Technology, it is said that an estimated 9.6% of adults aged 20 to 59 have a body mass index in Metro Manila alone. A clinical definition of obesity that exceeds 30% (BMI). This figure corresponds to more than 700,000 Filipinos at risk of serious future health complications such as cirrhosis, renal dysfunction and heart disease. At the same time, people who struggle to manage obesity often have a weakened immune system and are more susceptible to infections. This highlights the need to provide immediate vaccination services to these individuals in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic.

What Happens When Someone Becomes Obese

In 2016, an estimated 1.6 billion people were considered obese, and given recent events, this number could have increased significantly. According to the World Health Organization, obesity is the abnormal accumulation of fat in the human body. From a biometric point of view, fat accumulation is measured using BMI. It is expressed as a percentage of an individual’s body weight that is made up of fat. People with a BMI above 25% are considered overweight, and those with a BMI above 30% are said to be obese.

What should I do?

The best way to combat obesity, whether during a pandemic or not, is to prevent it.

• Eat a diet rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables, and stay away from fatty, sugar-rich, or both foods.
• Exercise regularly for at least 2 hours a week.
• Get at least 8 hours of sleep. Sleep wipes out the body of stress hormones that can increase the temptation to over-snack.
• If you are experiencing anxiety or depression, seek professional help from a psychiatrist or trained mental health professional rather than trying to manage it yourself.
• If you are already obese, talk to your doctor about how you can work to bring your weight to a healthier level.

Follow The Body of Truth page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/The-Body-of-Truth-106821354732100), An initiative pioneered by Novo Nordisk Philippines aimed at providing useful information about obesity and promoting a healthy lifestyle, along with helpful tips from trusted fitness, health and medical professionals. .. Launched earlier this year, the Body of Truth is a valuable resource for keeping up-to-date with the latest facts about personal weight management, along with helpful tips on exercise, diet and more.

* For more information on obesity and its management, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/The-Body-of-Truth-106821354732100..

ADVT.