Multiplying effects of COVID‐19 lockdown on metabolic risk and fatty liver

Abstract

Background Social containment measures imposed in Europe during the lockdown to face COVID‐19 pandemic can generate long‐term potential threats for metabolic health. Methods A cohort of 494 non‐COVID‐19 subjects living in 21 EU countries were interviewed by an anonymous questionnaire exploring anthropometric and lifestyle changes during 1‐month lockdown. A subgroup of 41 overweight/obese Italian subjects with previously diagnosed nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) joined the study following a 12‐month follow‐up period promoting weight loss by healthy lifestyle. Results During the lockdown, body weight increased in 55% of subjects (average 2.4 ± 0.9 kg). Weight change increased with age, but not baseline body mass index. Subjects living in Italy had greater weight gain than those living in other European Countries. Weight gain during the lockdown was highest in subjects reporting no physical activity, and low adherence to Mediterranean diet. In the NAFLD group, weight gain occurred in 70% of cases. Subjects reporting weight loss during lockdown had decreased fatty liver score at 3 months before the lockdown, as compared with 1 year before. Conclusions Strict measures of social containment—even short‐term—pave the way to the increased risk of metabolic abnormalities in the medium‐long term. In this context, adherence to Mediterranean diet and regular physical activity play a protective role both in terms of weight gain and fatty liver development/progression, with implication for primary and secondary prevention. When adopting measures imposing social containment, intensive educational campaigns must increase public awareness about beneficial effects of healthy lifestyles.

Time-Limited Eating and Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Adolescents with Obesity: A Pilot Study

“…Although we found no between-group difference in weight change, one-third of adolescents in the TLE groups and one-quarter of the control group achieved clinically meaningful weight loss of more than 5% of their baseline weight. One possible explanation for the absence of between-group difference lies in the structured day hypothesis [56][57][58].…”

Noncommunicable diseases, climate change and iniquities: What COVID‐19 has taught us about syndemic

“… 11 In addition, COVID‐19 substantially affects the quality of life of healthcare professionals. 12 Eventually, for many researchers the overall profile of scientific output is deeply affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic, by shifting the field of interest towards still unexplored territories, 9 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 as also documented by the global number of publications (more than 190,000 from 2019 to date) available so far in PubMed (PubMed (nih.gov)).…”

“… 16 , 24 Future studies need to clarify if and to which extent the acute SARS‐CoV‐2 infection will affect the progression of the pre‐existing NCD in COVID‐19 survivors. 16 , 25 This possibility exists mainly for selected conditions as chronic pulmonary, 26 , 27 cardiovascular, 28 , 29 neurologic, 30 psychiatric, 31 and metabolic disorders. 13 , 14 , 16 …”

“… 16 , 25 This possibility exists mainly for selected conditions as chronic pulmonary, 26 , 27 cardiovascular, 28 , 29 neurologic, 30 psychiatric, 31 and metabolic disorders. 13 , 14 , 16 …”

COVID‐19 and digestive health: Implications for prevention, care and the use of COVID‐19 vaccines in vulnerable patients

“…In addition, a cohort of subjects living in 21 EU countries explored that during the lockdown, body weight increased in 55% of subjects. 14 This worsening of lifestyle habits may increase the risk of both chronic and communicable diseases since nutritional status influences immunity. In the UK Biobank, the risk of COVID‐19 positivity was lower when consuming vegetables and higher when consuming processed meats.…”