Obesity and covid-19 — signs of convergence of two pandemiсs. Guidelines to fight obesity based on the principles of «ROOTS»

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenging problem of the present. Another essential problem causing serious health consequences is the global obesity epidemy. Our article notes the importance of studying the combinations and correlations of mentioned pandemic processes. We analyzed scientific reports of co-presence of obesity, diabetes and coronavirus infection. According to the analyzed data combination of COVID-19 with obesity and diabetes leads to the higher rate of the hospitalisation. These patients more often required the transfer to the intensive care unit and artificial lung ventilation. Our review contains scientific observations of the first reported cases of higher mortality rate of obese and diabetic patients during the period of previous influenza pandemics (including H1N1). The results of the 2020 year shows that the outcomes of coronavirus infection with underlying obesity much more threatening and harmfull. In our article, we present the correlation of the average body mass and mortality rate index in different countries (according to the WHO and the World Obesity Federation). Comparative results in the Central Asia countries are given as well. The paper analyzes the suggestions for obesity policy and advocacy provided by World Obesity Federation in “ROOTS: A framework for action”. The conclusions marks the importance of implementing the proposed measures against obesity during a pandemic and in the post-COVID era.

The anthropometric indicators’ changes of patients after COVID-19

“…When infected with a coronavirus infection, all patients were strictly recommended a strict bed regimen, which means that a decrease in physical activity is one of the reasons for the accumulation of adipose tissue in the body. Patients with COVID-19 were recommended by doctors to have multiple diets enriched with fats [8,9]. These recommendations were necessary to maintain the energy balance of the body.…”

“…Scientists have proven overweight or obesity is an excessive accumulation of fatty tissues in the human body, which leads to poor health [4,8,9]. Why is obesity dangerous for people who have had coronavirus?…”

“…In order to overcome chest rigidity and opposition to the airways, additional energy support is required, breathing increases, fatigue develops [4,9], which was observed in all subjects and respiratory muscle weakness. This leads to an imbalance in the demand on the respiratory muscles and the performance of breathing, which causes a feeling of shortness of breath [4,[8][9][10].…”

“…In recent decades, the prevalence of myopia has rapidly increased [7][8][9]. According to projections, nearly half of the world's population will suffer from myopia by 2050 [2].…”

“…Nevertheless, there is no consensus on the relationship between height and refraction. In addition, some studies report that people with higher body mass index (BMI) are more likely to be myopic [7], but some studies did not find this association [8].…”