Obesity a driving factor in COVID-19 deaths, global report finds

 

A sign reminding to wear protective masks is painted on the pavement of Cologne's main shopping street Hohe Strasse (High Street) as people wear masks while doing their Christmas shopping amid the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease pandemic in Cologne, Germany, December, 12, 2020. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The majority of global COVID-19 deaths have been in countries where many people are obese, with coronavirus fatality rates 10 times higher in nations where at least 50% of adults are overweight, a global study found on Thursday.

 

The report, which described a "dramatic" correlation between countries' COVID-19 death and obesity rates, found that 90% or 2.2 million of the 2.5 million deaths from the pandemic disease so far were in countries with high levels of obesity. 

 

The study analysed the COVID-19 death figures from Johns Hopkins University in the United States and the World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory data on obesity.

 

Strikingly, the authors said, there is no example of a country where people are generally not overweight or obese having high COVID-19 death rates.

 

"Look at countries like Japan and South Korea, where they have very low levels of COVID-19 deaths as well as very low levels of adult obesity," said Tim Lobstein, an expert advisor to the World Obesity Federation and visiting professor at Australia's Sydney University who co-led the report.

 

The majority of global COVID-19 deaths have been in countries where many people are obese, with coronavirus fatality rates ten times higher in nations where at least 50% of adults are overweight, a global study found on Thursday. Emer McCarthy reports.

 

"They have prioritised public health across a range of measures, including population weight, and it has paid off in the pandemic."

 

By contrast, the report found that in the United States and Britain, for example, both COVID-19 death rates and obesity levels were among the highest.

 

The United Kingdom has the world's third-highest coronavirus death rate and the fourth-highest obesity rate - 184 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 and 63.7% of adults overweight, according to WHO data - followed by the United States, with 152.49 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 and 67.9% of adults overweight.

 

John Wilding, a professor of medicine at Britain's University of Liverpool and president of the World Obesity Federation, said obesity should be recognised as a key COVID-19 health risk and taken into account in vaccination plans.

 

"It's really important that we recognise that obesity ... increases the risk," he said in a statement about the report's findings. "Therefore, like other diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, people with obesity should be considered for early priority in vaccination programmes across the world."

 

(Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-04

 

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Survival of the fittest, the fatties die off first ?

body positivity maybe not such a good thing to push after all ? who would of known.

 

 

21 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

Survival of the fittest, the fatties die off first ?

Old and fat , double jeopardy

It's just common sense; obesity leads to extreme inflammatory response by the body (i.e.: metabolic syndrome) and therefore a weakened immune system, making it a prime target for infection.  Proper nutrition is often the best preventative medicine there is (i.e.: “Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.” ).

 

Wonder how that’s compareing with the populations down in South America seems reasonable and logical though 

COVID has so much in common with the zombie apocalypse - 

 

 

(Note the lack of mask-wearing)

3 hours ago, webfact said:

"It's really important that we recognise that obesity ... increases the risk," he said in a statement about the report's findings.

If this is the case, then the state of Texas is in for some big trouble, because they have just "opened up the state" with regards to Covid.

 

And I watched the news clip on the BBC last night and the clip showed a view of a car park in Texas with people going to various shops/stores, and I was amazed at how fat/overweight/obese the vast majority of these people were – – absolutely shocking sight.

 

They say "everything is bigger in Texas", and they've certainly got that right.

4 minutes ago, xylophone said:

If this is the case, then the state of Texas is in for some big trouble, because they have just "opened up the state" with regards to Covid.

 

And I watched the news clip on the BBC last night and the clip showed a view of a car park in Texas with people going to various shops/stores, and I was amazed at how fat/overweight/obese the vast majority of these people were – – absolutely shocking sight.

 

They say "everything is bigger in Texas", and they've certainly got that right.

It's not just Texas; Americans overall are probably the most most obese people in the world, which stands to reason since America is also the country with the highest consumption of junk food (i.e.: excessive carbohydrates  and heavily processed food products).

Wouldn't necessarily disagree with the findings....only draw back is that it gives a nice little 'out' for the atrocious handling of the pandemic in the USA, UK and Brazil.......

From theguardian.com

 

 

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"Look at countries like Japan and South Korea, where they have very low levels of COVID-19 deaths as well as very low levels of adult obesity,"

 

How are the Sumo wrestlers doing?

Another one of those costly studies that most people would have guessed anyway.

There are other reasons why countries have a low death rate too, obviously.  But undoubtedly countries like the UK, and USA are fighting 2 epidemics, and unfortunately there isn't a vaccine for obesity. Age is the biggest factor though.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

John Wilding, a professor of medicine at Britain's University of Liverpool and president of the World Obesity Federation, said obesity should be recognised as a key COVID-19 health risk and taken into account in vaccination plans.

so is alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction, aids.

obesity, as those above, is personal choice, lifestyle. Rarely hereditary or result of other illness.

for that difficult to agree that people with those conditions should be prioritised over the other health risk groups

4 minutes ago, internationalism said:

so is alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction, aids.

obesity, as those above, is personal choice, lifestyle. Rarely hereditary or result of other illness.

for that difficult to agree that people with those conditions should be prioritised over the other health risk groups

The reason that the obese are  being prioritized is that they are more susceptible to Covid so more likely to suffer serious illness  and even die from it. So whatever the other merits may be, from a cost/benefits perspective it makes sound economic sense to  give them priority.

7 minutes ago, placeholder said:

The reason that the obese are  being prioritized is that they are more susceptible to Covid so more likely to suffer serious illness  and even die from it. So whatever the other merits may be, from a cost/benefits perspective it makes sound economic sense to  give them priority.

How about morally?

6 hours ago, webfact said:

By contrast, the report found that in the United States and Britain, for example, both COVID-19 death rates and obesity levels were among the highest.

 

This certainly give weight to those who believe in fat shaming.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

"It's really important that we recognise that obesity ... increases the risk," he said in a statement about the report's findings.

 

Obesity is the thin end of the wedge. 

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

How about morally?

Deflecting much?

 

And given what researchers are learning about the ecology of the gut, it seems a lot of obesity is due to over medicating  with antibiotics and changing the healthy balance of organisms.

1 hour ago, placeholder said:

Deflecting much?

 

And given what researchers are learning about the ecology of the gut, it seems a lot of obesity is due to over medicating  with antibiotics and changing the healthy balance of organisms.

Although usually its because they eat all the pies and swill it down with gallons of fizzy sugar water.

1 hour ago, placeholder said:

Deflecting much?

 

And given what researchers are learning about the ecology of the gut, it seems a lot of obesity is due to over medicating  with antibiotics and changing the healthy balance of organisms.

Just another excuse from overweight people, that don't wanna admit that they over-eat.

 

Everybody can diet - they just need to keep their mouth closed

This is great news. It might encourage more fatties to shed some weight. Easier on the eye and good for their health, win-win.

7 hours ago, Surelynot said:

Wouldn't necessarily disagree with the findings....only draw back is that it gives a nice little 'out' for the atrocious handling of the pandemic in the USA, UK and Brazil.......

Does it though? I would have thought the overwhelming evidence that obesity and overcrowding are among the key factors adds to better understanding.But those who are simply interested in weaponising the COVID pandemic for political ends certainly will be a little deflated.

9 minutes ago, jayboy said:

Does it though? I would have thought the overwhelming evidence that obesity and overcrowding are among the key factors adds to better understanding.But those who are simply interested in weaponising the COVID pandemic for political ends certainly will be a little deflated.

Exactly how will this help those opposed to Covid restrictions?

I wasn't aware that obesity was such a problem in the slums of Brazil, or Iran, or India. 
 

How about the majority of global COVID-19 deaths have been largely concentrated in two countries where people have refused to wear masks and where there hasn't been efficient lockdowns or travel restrictions. 

 

 

 

Obesity explained

I recently went to the doctor.

He told me to lose some weight,

I said 'How?’. 

He said 'Don't eat anything fatty',

I said 'What? Pies? Chips? That sort of thing?'. 

He said 'No, just don't eat anything fatty'.

~ Gary Delaney

The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study found that Britain had the worst healthy life expectancy in Europe. Five insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.8 ธ.ค. 2563

 

The UK/Britain seem a very unhealthy people.  Covid deaths in UK greater per population then even the US.

What are they doing/not doing and eating to create such a big problem?

Terrible and sad.

Point of fact... it does not matter what disease, chronic condition or trauma you have or die from... if you die and test positive for Covid19, you are listed as a covid death. 

Just give me a full lemon cheesecake, a jug of heavy cream, a few stacks of pancakes with blueberries and whipped cream on top and a liter of Lemonade mixed with tea, and all will be good, no way Covid can fight through all of those calories to attack me even if I am a diabetic and obese.  Waiting on my Sumo GrandMaster to brink in my sixth bowl of white rice and friar tuck to brink in my cask of beer and I will be ready to get on the mat and belly bust Covid.