Author: Joelle Weinerman
Executive Summary
A strong correlation has been drawn between obesity and the severity of COVID-19 infection. Studies have shown that having a BMI over 30, the threshold that defines obesity, increases the risk of being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 by 113%, admitted into intensive care by 74%, and dying from COVID-19 by 48%. In the United States, 39.2% of adults have a BMI over 30. In 2025, this is predicted to increase to 44.4% in adults and 23.7% among children 5-19. Preliminary studies have also shown that obesity might affect an individual’s immune response to the Pfizer vaccine. These data have brought up concerns surrounding the co-morbidities of obesity and their contributions to global infectious disease outbreaks – both present and future.
On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has also severely worsened the obesity epidemic in the U.S. The combination of the imposed quarantines, social distancing, and socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic has resulted in deteriorating psychosocial health, increasing instances of anxiety and loneliness. There is a direct correlation between poor psychosocial health and metabolic health due to the negative impacts on food-related behaviour and physical activity.
Obesity is the number one leading cause of death in the U.S. Astonishingly, it does not receive the same level of attention and resources as an infectious disease that results in a pandemic when it is a pandemic in its own right. The effects of obesity on COVID-19 infection and vice-versa have been neglected by the government in the conversation surrounding pandemic preparedness and prevention and need to be addressed through national campaigns and policies.
Obesity and the Response to COVID-19 Campaign
On a national level, the administration needs to address how obesity is linked with COVID-19 severity, and target obesity as an act of pandemic response and mitigation. The World Obesity Federation has outlined its “ROOTS” approach breaking down solutions at the community, local, and national levels to address obesity as a global health crisis. In its simplest form, it references the importance of recognizing obesity as its own disease, as well as a risk factor for other conditions, and focusing on monitoring, surveillance, prevention, and treatment. It is crucial to acknowledge the complexity of obesity as a global health crisis, requiring an integrative and collaborative systems-based approach.
The UK serves as a good example of a country implementing a national obesity campaign to reduce the risk of COVID-19. The governments obesity strategy encourages the development of healthier habits by providing free tools and services to support healthy eating, increasing activity, and reducing alcohol consumption.
The Need for the Regulation of the Multinational Food and Beverage Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light how “Big Food” can take advantage of the vulnerabilities established by the pandemic with marketing strategies. Multinational food and beverage corporations especially target low-to middle-income populations and front-line workers by donating ultra-processed products to school programs and hospitals, portraying their products as “essential,” and emphasizing the feeling of comfort and nostalgia during lockdowns and isolation. Many of these initiatives demonstrate how private sector companies can interfere in governmental decision-making, which is called corporate capture of the government. For example, Pepsi collaborated with governments and health authorities in the U.S. to set up COVID-19 testing sites. This has identified a need for increased healthy food regulations and improved conflict-of-interest protocols for food and beverage industry giants collaborating with the government, Ministries of Health, Education, and public entities.
Ultra-processed foods and drinks, defined as “industrially manufactured ready-to-heat-and-eat foods,” are a causative agent of increased obesity. Most contain low nutritional value and high levels of sugar, sodium, and fat. A well-established relationship exists between socioeconomic status and the risk of obesity. Many of the initiatives implemented by these companies targeted low-income communities, which exacerbated the inequality gap and increased the risk of COVID-19 infection. It is necessary to address poverty and inequality as the root causes of obesity and ensure that these populations, especially children, have more resources and access to adequately nutritious foods. The government’s role is to regulate such food assistance programs to vulnerable populations during a health crisis and ensure they are fulfilling their obligation to protect the right to adequate food.
The Role of Education for Children
Children and adolescents are particularly susceptible to being targeted by advertisements for unhealthy food and drink products. Furthermore, children living in impoverished areas are more than twice as likely to be obese as those living in higher-income areas. Many of these children rely on meals provided by schools and the affordability of fast-food products.
Policies and resources designated for obesity education, monitoring, and prevention in vulnerable children and adolescents must be created. The greatest influence will be seen by integrating these programs into the school system and implementing healthy food standards and eating education. Increased funding should be allocated to school food programs to ensure they can supply nutritious meals. A solution that can be sustained and has a positive long-term effect is introducing cooking classes to the curriculum to educate students on nutrition for obesity prevention and teach the basics of home-cooking with wholesome ingredients.
Conclusion
The relationship between overweight populations and deaths from COVID-19 infection is correlative, but the relation between COVID-19 and increases in obesity nationally and globally is causative. Addressing the root causes of obesity, mainly poverty and inequality, and the factors that worsen these disparities will help combat the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is assumed that future emerging diseases will follow a similar trend regarding effects of an overweight population; therefore, it is crucial to prevent obesity from being a persistent comorbidity.
References
This article was prepared by the author in their personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the view of their place of employment.
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