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Background The spread of COVID-19 depends on a lot of social and economic factors. The aim: to study the influence of country’s gross domestic product, population prevalence of overweight/ obesity, NCD mortality, and vaccination on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates. Methods A cross-sectional study with two phases: correlation-regression interrelations in 1) all world countries; 2) all world non-island countries. The study includes the following data from 218 world countries: COVID-19 morbidity/mortality rates, GDP per capita, the prevalence of overweight/ obesity, NCD mortality among adults (both sexes), people fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Results An average percentage of the prevalence of overweight among adults in world countries by 2019 was 47.31±15.99%, obesity 18.34±9.64%, while the prevalence by 2016 were 39% and 13%, respectively. Overweight and obesity among adults during three years grew by 21.2% and 40.8%, respectively. Data from the world countries provide significant correlations (p<0.0001) between COVID-19 morbidity, and: GDP (r=0.517), overweight (r=0.54), obesity (r=0.528), NCD mortality (r=0.537); COVID-19 mortality, and: GDP (r=0.344), overweight (r=0.514), obesity (r=0.489), NCD mortality (r=0.611); GDP, and: overweight (r=0.507), obesity (r=0.523), NCD mortality (r=0.35), fully vaccinated people (r=0.754). An increase in fully vaccinated people, from 3% to 30% of world population, decreases new confirmed COVID-19 cases, although the dependence was not significant (p=0.07). Data from non-island world countries provides more highly significant correlations (p<0.0001) between COVID-19 morbidity, and: GDP (r=0.616), overweight (r=0.581), obesity (r=0.583); COVID-19 mortality, and: GDP (r=0.43), overweight (r=0.556), obesity (r=0.539); GDP, and: overweight (r=0.601), obesity (r=0.633). The differences of correlation coefficients between data of 176 world countries and data of 143 world non-island countries were not significant (Z-scores<1.29; p>0.05). Conclusion The study provides evidence of a significant impact of overweight/obesity prevalence on the increase in COVID-19 morbidity/mortality. Countries with higher GDP have a high overweight/obesity prevalence and possibility to get vaccinated.

BackgroundThe prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in worldwide despite the development of new treatment methods. Aim of the study was to evaluate a weight loss method on body composition, glycemic, lipid and hormone profiles, blood pressure and reactive oxygen species in people with treated type 2 diabetes.MethodsA 24-week open, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial including 272 adult patients with treated type 2 diabetes was performed. The patients were divided in two groups: Main group consisted of 208 patients who followed a method including a calorie restriction diet and optimal physical activity; Control included 64 patients who received conventional drug treatment with weight loss. Main Outcome Measures were weight loss, fasting glucose and 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HbA1c. Secondary endpoints were blood pressure, lipid and insulin blood levels.ResultsAt 24 weeks, patients in Main weight lost between 8-18 kg (10–21%); their body mass index significantly decreased (-4.2 kg/m2) as well as their waist circumference (-13 cm) compared to Control. In Main weight loss was achieved fatty mass reduction. In Main fasting glucose and OGTT, HbA1c, blood pressure, reactive oxygen species decreased significantly, whereas hemoglobin levels and heel bone mineral density increased. In Main blood insulin levels decreased by 72.0%, cortisol levels decreased by 40.7%, while testosterone levels in men increased by 2.4 times from baseline. The application of the weight loss method led to a decrease in drug doses leading to their complete withdrawal.ConclusionsThe results of this study show the beneficial role of a weight loss method in improving glycemic, lipid and hormone profiles, electrolyte and biochemical indices, blood pressure, reactive oxygen species and bone mineral density in patients with treated type 2 diabetes.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02503865. Retrospectively registered November 2015.

BackgroundThe prevalence and burden of atherosclerotic (AS) diseases are increasing during the last twenty years. Some studies show a close relationship between overweight and AS, but influence on AS diseases of different weight loss methods are still studying. The purpose of the research was to study the effectiveness of a weight loss program in AS patients in randomized controlled trial, and to develop a conception of evolution of AS.MethodsA randomized controlled prospective clinical trial including 97 people, from them 71 patients with various AS manifestations. Patients were divided in 2 subgroups for non-drug weight loss program, and conventional drug therapy. The weight loss program included calorie restriction with 100–150 kcal/day, fat-free vegetables, salt diet, and optimum physical activity. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows version 17.0.ResultsThe weight loss subgroup lost ranging between 7-20 % from an initial weight (P = 0.016). Weight loss was achieved due to fatty mass reduction only (P = 0.005). Hemoglobin levels (P < 0.001), bone mineral density (P < 0.001), percentages of water (P = 0.006) and muscle masses (P = 0.0038) were increased in weight loss subgroup. Ejection fraction (P < 0.0001), systolic output (P < 0.0001) were increased in patients with coronary artery disease. The weight loss program led to a decrease in symptomatic drugs doses up to total abolition. A conception of AS was developed.ConclusionsThe weight loss program treated the AS diseases; improved laboratory and instrumental parameters, decreased symptomatic drugs doses. AS development is a logical way of ontogenetic ageing of body fat.Trial international registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01700075.Trial national registrationState registration is # 0109RK000079, code is O.0475 at the National Center for Scientific and Technical Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.