29/03/2021
I have avoided posting any of my personal thoughts or opinions about the COVID-19 lockdown as I don’t think that social media is the place. However, we have now lived in a state of full or partial lockdown for one whole year; with businesses closed, social isolation, and adverse mental health stats skyrocketing. Whilst I still endeavour to withhold any political opinions, I do think there has been a bias in terms of the COVID-19 health stats which have been actively promoted and shared with the public. I have watched with hope that the extreme measures put in place this past year would somehow include strategies to address one of the real underlying issues in this country. Yet here we are, one year on; and as vaccines slowly begin to revive communities, I fear we are no further forward in terms of our fight against one of the other epidemics that has been ongoing long before COVID-19 was ever a thing. That epidemic is obesity.
There is a wealth of research emerging which shows that obesity is associated with a higher risk of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission as well as poorer outcomes from COVID-19 (Foldi et al., 2020; Malik et al., 2020; Yang et al., 2020). Studies in the United States have shown that having a BMI over 30 increases the risk of being admitted to hospital with covid-19 by 113%, of being admitted to intensive care by 74%, and of dying by 48%! Public Health England reported similar numbers for mortality, with the risk of death from COVID-19 increasing by 90% in people with a BMI over 40 (Public Health England, 2020)!!! Similarly, a report from Italy suggests that 99% of deaths were in patients with pre-existing conditions including those which are commonly seen in people with obesity, such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes and heart diseases (Palmieri et al., 2020). These stats are staggering.
The UK has the third highest death rate from COVID-19 globally and the fourth highest prevalence of overweight at 63.7% (almost 2/3 of the UK population). The United States has the next highest death rate and has 67.9% of the population overweight (Wise, 2021). Think about that for a minute. You are in the minority in the UK if you are a healthy body weight. That is terrifying.
Authors have acknowledged that the age structure of a country, as well as its relative wealth, political response and reporting capacity, has an impact on covid-19 cases, hospital admissions, and deaths; however findings seem to be independent of these contributory factors.
The author of the World Obesity Federation’s report, said: “We now know that an overweight population is the next pandemic waiting to happen. Look at countries like Japan and South Korea where they have very low levels of covid-19 deaths (Japan 8590 and South Korea 1678 deaths compared to UK 125,000 deaths) as well as very low levels of adult obesity (Japan 4.3% and South Korea 4.7% compared to UK obesity rate of 27.8%). They have prioritised public health across a range of measures, including population weight, and it has paid off in the pandemic.”
I can’t help but wonder if the NHS would need protecting if we were a healthier nation, and really do hope that the last year of Lockdown will bring about a change in terms of how people perceive their health and wellbeing. However, this will only happen with an increased awareness and understanding of the facts, as well as an effective support system. Losing weight is far from easy; but neither has the last year of isolation, home schooling and facemasks. And like hand sanitising, weight loss is one action that everyone is capable of, providing the right support and guidance is in place.
If you would like support with your own health or weight loss journey, we are always here to help. Book a free intro chat to find out at www.aristosfitness.as.me/womens-health-intro 🙏
