From the threat of COVID-19 to a cure, the odds are stacked against obese people, and a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill raises considerations about the effect of obesity on the efficacy of a vaccine. long-term against COVID -19.
The researchers looked at the published literature on other people inflamed by the virus and found that the other obese people (BMI greater than 30) had a particularly greater threat of hospitalization (113%), most likely they were admitted to the hospital. extensive care unit (74%) and had a higher threat of death (48%) from the virus.
A team of researchers from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill, along with leader Barry Popkin, a professor in the Department of Nutrition and a member of the Carolina Population Center, collaborated with World Bank nutrition and fitness specialist Meera Shekar. specialist, in the article published in Obesity Reviews.
For the article, the researchers tested immunological and biomedical knowledge to provide a detailed presentation of the mechanisms and pathways that link obesity to an increased threat from COVID-19, as well as a greater likelihood of more severe headaches from the virus. .
Obesity is already linked to many underlying threat points for COVID-19, in addition to hypertension, diabetes center disease, and chronic kidney and liver disease.
The metabolic adjustments caused by obesity, such as insulin resistance and inflammation, make it difficult for other obese people to fight off certain infections, a trend that can be seen in other infectious diseases, such as influenza and hepatitis.
During periods of infection, out-of-control blood sugar, common in others with hyperglycemia, can affect the function of immune cells.
“All of these points can influence immune mobile metabolism, which determines how bodies respond to pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus,” says co-author Melinda Beck, nutrition teacher at Gillings Global School of Public Health. “Other obese people are also more likely to develop physical illnesses that make it harder to fight this disease, such as sleep apnea, which increases pulmonary hypertension, or a body mass index that increases tricks in a hospital setting with intubation. “
Previous paintings through Beck and others have shown that the flu vaccine is less effective in obese adults. The same would possibly be true for a long-term SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, Beck says.
“However, we are not saying that the vaccine is useless in obese populations, but that obesity deserves to be considered as a modification to consider for vaccine trials,” he said. “Even a less protective vaccine will be offering a safe point of immunity. “
About 40% of Americans are obese, and the resulting pandemic lockdown has led to a number of situations that make it more difficult for Americans to reach a healthy weight.
Working from home, restricting social visits, and cutting back on activities – all in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus – means we move less than ever, Popkin says.
The ability to eat healthy foods has also been affected. Economic difficulties put food insecurity at increased risk, making them more vulnerable to situations that may result from eating bad foods.
“Not only are we more at home and under more stress due to the pandemic, but we also don’t stop at the grocery store as often, which means we need highly processed junk food and less expensive sugary drinks with no storage. ” it has been built, “he said. These highly processed, reasonable foods are high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fat and loaded with extremely subtle carbohydrates, all of which increase not only the threat of excessive weight gain, but also primary non-communicable diseases. “
Popkin, who is part of the Global Food Research Program at UNC-Chapel Hill, says the findings highlight why governments want to tackle the nutritional players underlying obesity and put in place strong public fitness policies that reduce obesity to population level.
Other countries, such as Chile and Mexico, have followed policies ranging from taxing high-sugar foods to introducing precautionary labels on foods packaged high in sugar, fat and sodium and restricting the marketing of junk food to children.