Year: 2022
Type: review
Abstract: 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.
Source: Hormone and Metabolic Research
DOI: 10.1055/a-1878-9757
Institutions: University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dubai Hospital, King's College Hospital, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Harefield Hospital, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, University of Prishtina, Städtisches Klinikum Dresden, Klinikum Chemnitz, University of Sharjah, King's College London
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,486
Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
OpenAlex ID: W4283214321