Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic childhood obesity is still an epidemic-spotlight on obesity's multifactorial determinants

Saliba, Katya; Cuschieri, Sarah

doi:10.1016/j.hsr.2021.100006

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…The number of people with overweight and obesity is increasing all over the world making these people more susceptible to infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, which in the current corona pandemic turned out to be devastating. Therefore, the importance of preventing obesity already from childhood on has been further put into the spotlight 89 . The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that nutrition education interventions, access to healthy food, as well as family nutrition counselling should be covered by pediatric services to prevent obesity, which worsens disease outcomes related to SARS-CoV-2 infection and to potential other new epidemics in the future 66 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obesity and COVID-19: What are the Consequences?

et al. 2022

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Obesity is an increasing health problem all over the world. In combination with the current COVID-19 pandemic, this has turned into a massive challenge as individuals with overweight and obesity at all ages show a significant increase in their risk of getting severe COVID-19. Around 20% of all patients that were hospitalized for COVID-19 suffered from obesity alone, whereas obesity in combination with other metabolic comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, account for up to 60% of all hospitalizations in relation to COVID-19. Therefore, it is of immense importance to put the spotlight on the high incidence of obesity present already in childhood both by changing the individual minds and by encouraging politicians and the whole society to commence preventive interventions for achieving a better nutrition for all social classes all over the world. In the current review, we aim to explain the different pathways and mechanisms that are responsible for the increased risk of severe COVID-19 in people with overweight and obesity. Furthermore, we discuss how the pandemic has led to weight gains in many people during lockdown. At the end, we discuss the importance of preventing such an interface between a non-communicable disease like obesity and a communicable disease like COVID-19 in the future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obesity and COVID-19: What are the Consequences?

et al. 2022

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“…53 The presence of childhood obesity does however, tend to raise the COVID-19 risk among this group, regardless of lockdowns, while those children who are subject to school closures and stay at home rules are found to be especially susceptible at higher rates than one would predict to acquiring excess weight than in pre pandemic times and hence to a possible risk of multiple comorbid health conditions. 9 In this regard, the COVID-19 pandemic response of school closures has clearly raised childhood obesity susceptibility in all parts of the world, and with this, numerous probable adverse short and long-term unintended health and social consequences. 43 In particular, the mental health consequences of childhood obesity, plus possible excess bullying by others, and further isolation due to respiratory challenges and a compromised immune system that has not been readily studied, will predictably unfold over time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of specific concern is that efforts to mitigate the contagious COVID-19 variants may be impacted adversely and considerably, if the obesity issue remains unaddressed 5,8 and youth continue to gain weight as a result of school closures. 6 In this regard, while the key drivers of the obesity epidemic have been argued to stem largely from the persistent exposure of vulnerable youth and others to an obesity inducing ('obesogenic') environment, 9 it is important to identify specifically what issues may currently be interacting even more excessively with known childhood obesity determinants to advance the rate as well as magnitude and prevalence of childhood obesity. As well, the impact of excess body weight on current infection risk, and its severity, as well as future comorbid illnesses and low life quality deserves heightened attention.…”

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confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and childhood obesity

Marks¹

2022

AOWMC

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Childhood obesity, which is on the rise, is a risk factor for, as well as a possible negative outcome, of the restrictions enacted to protect against the novel corona virus 19 infectious disease [COVID-19]. To examine this premise the PUBMED and GOOGLE SCHOLAR data bases were sourced for relevant data published between January 2020 and March 2022 on the topic of COVID-19 and childhood obesity. These data bases show most current publications tend to portray a negative impact of COVID-19 lockdown policies on childhood obesity prevalence and outcomes. Many calls are hence being made for urgent efforts to mitigate a possible tsunami of chronic ill health and pain both in the short term, as well as in the long term among the millions of currently affected overweight children.

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“…With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic since December 2019, there has been a drastic change in the physical activity behaviors, screen time, and dietary practices of individuals [11]. This has led to a rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity not only in adults but also in children [12,13] In a longitudinal analysis, the prevalence of obesity in adolescents (11--16 years) from China showed a significant increase in the percentage who are obese (14.2-15.4%) after onset of the pandemic. The average body mass index in this cohort increased from 20.3 to 21.2 kg/m 2 [14].…”

Section: Problem Statement Of Covid-19 and Obesitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dual Pandemics of COVID-19 and Obesity: Bidirectional Impact

Kapoor

Kalra²,

Mahmeed³

et al. 2022

Diabetes Ther

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The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, has been shown to disrupt many organ systems in the human body. Though several medical disorders have been affected by this infection, a few illnesses in addition may also play a role in determining the outcome of COVID-19. Obesity is one such disease which is not only affected by the occurrence of COVID-19 but can also result in a worse clinical outcome of COVID-19 infection. This manuscript summarizes the most recent evidence supporting the bidirectional impact of COVID-19 and obesity. It highlights how the presence of obesity can be detrimental to the outcome of COVID-19 in a given patient because of the mechanical limitations in lung compliance and also by the activation of several thrombo-inflammatory pathways. The sociodemographic changes brought about by the pandemic in turn have facilitated the already increasing prevalence of obesity. This manuscript highlights the importance of recognizing these pathways which may further help in policy changes that facilitate appropriate measures to prevent the further worsening of these two pandemics.

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Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic childhood obesity is still an epidemic-spotlight on obesity's multifactorial determinants

Cited by 16 publications

References 104 publications

Obesity and COVID-19: What are the Consequences?

Obesity and COVID-19: What are the Consequences?

COVID-19 and childhood obesity

The Dual Pandemics of COVID-19 and Obesity: Bidirectional Impact

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