A Short Report on Managing Obesity for Optimizing COVID-19 Outcomes

Rupa Potti

Department of Nursing, Chicago State University, IL, United States of America

Dr. Rupa Potti, Department of Nursing, Chicago State University, IL, United States of America.

Keywords: Obesity; COVID-19; Adverse Outcomes; Risk Factors

Abstract

COVID-19 continues to ravage the continents ever since it was first reported in December 2019 and later declared a world pandemic. As public health continue it’s fight against COVID-19 through primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention by creating awareness, education about handwashing, social distancing, mask mandates, travel restrictions, immunizations and other strategies through public polices, it is important to study the individual modifiable risk factors of COVID-19 infection which makes the individuals susceptible to infection at a higher rate. One such risk factor is obesity. It has been studied that obesity caused respiratory compromise, increases inflammatory response due to underlying inflammation, and affects the resilience after infection leading to severe illness, higher Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions and increased mortality rates. Obesity is being considered as independent factor and an additional risk factor with other co-morbidities affecting the clients pertaining to COVID-19. Since studies have shown that there is increased incidence of weight gain due to changes in life, work, travel and mental health, it is important to address this condition to have better outcomes in relation to COVID-19 infections. Further studies have shown that obesity has detrimental effects on COVID-19 outcomes not just in recovery but also in contracting the disease. These studies provide evidence that there is a high need to manage obesity now specially with the COVID-19 continuing to be prevalent. It is important that health care workers take responsibility of presenting evidence to the clients about the importance of managing weight. Clients have to be educated about ideal weight and effective methods of not only losing weight but also on long-lasting strategies of remaining at an ideal weight. Since, the COVID-19 continues to be prevalent, it is very important that modifiable risk factors such as obesity should be addressed at practice and research levels.

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