Obesity and COVID-19

Science shows that obesity leads to comorbidities (multiple chronic ailments), and those most at risk of contracting COVID-19 are people with comorbidities (3 times greater risk). Why then, is our country not more focused on preventing or reducing obesity? https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html

Obesity and all its causes, are the elephants in the room that few people want to discuss for fear of offending those whom have these issues or suffering the backlash from companies that employ millions of US workers, while also profiting from the illnesses connected to their products. The fast food industry generates about $240 billion annually.

The CDC reports, the US adult obesity rate is now at 42% and rising each year, we need to get past being offended or the denial of this and truly see it for what it is. We can argue that seemingly healthy people can get Covid19 also, just as doctors get ill sometimes and dentist themselves get cavities. What is different though, is healthier individuals usually recover faster or experience less severe symptoms. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

People want to believe in science, or so they say. Often, we will agree with science when it supports our own viewpoint. Not so much when science makes us think more, work smarter or self-discipline. Science has proven that a healthy immune system is a definite issue in preventing illnesses, viruses or otherwise. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system

Eating healthier foods, being active, managing stress, quality sleep are all proven by science to help fight illnesses, but this is not the message being conveyed to the public. Masks, social distancing and vaccines will not make those prone to disease any healthier. Safer maybe? These methods help short-term but they are just a band-aid for the bigger issues of unhealthy lifestyles. Many people sit all day long, kids have little or no PE and/or recess in schools, there is less unorganized playtime for younger kids to explore and enjoy, and we often eat low-quality foods contributing to a 42% obesity rate in the US. To sum it all up: we have a general lack of public education of how to live a healthy lifestyle. Fix the root problems and let’s see the healthy tree grow to new heights!

Americans consume a ton of low quality junk food every day. Our economy relies upon the fast food industry to provide jobs and profits to investors. Makers of soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, processed foods, fried foods, cigarettes, candy and many others would not be too happy if the president, CDC, or surgeon general made a public service announcement calling for Americans to reduce or reconsider the mass consumption of these items and instead eat healthier meals at home. The healthcare industry also profits from Americans being healthy enough to produce in the workforce but being unhealthy enough to need medications, procedures and surgeries that might be avoided from a healthier diet mentality encouraged at an earlier age. US annual healthcare spending is about 3.5 trillion. The US ranks about 35 in the world for quality of healthcare while spending far more than any other country. More spending does not equal healthier people; the US has proven this for much of the last decades. https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2019/08/08/how-us-healthcare-spending-per-capita-compares-with-other-countries-infographic/?sh=241349ea575d

A large majority of US workers now sit for many hours a day whether working, watching TV or engaged in computer activities, all leading to a more sedentary lifestyle than what was experienced in decades past. The CDC reports that kids are sitting in front of a screen average 7.5 hours per day, every day. https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/multimedia/infographics/getmoving.html

US citizens have more stress and anxiety than years past, trying to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, politics and other economic uncertainties. Most have little or no understanding of self-stress management often resorting to alcohol and drugs to relieve depression, anxiety and other emotional issues. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2019/stress-america-2019.pdf

Schools have been trimming back on physical education and recess in past years, in place of the seemingly more important time dedicated to academics, resulting in over-stressed overweight young adults. If a strong fitness ethic is not developed in earlier years of development, it is often difficult to recoup once an individual heads into adulthood with college, careers, social and family life. https://thebestschools.org/magazine/death-of-recess/

These factors and others have contributed to a recipe for an unhealthy nation that has been baking in the oven for that last decades. DING!! The recipe is now complete and the cake is done baking! Here we our with a hot and fresh pandemic. In spite of masks, social distancing and new vaccines, Americans will continue to suffer in the future. If not from COVID-19, then COVID-20 or the next manifestation of disease that grows in unhealthy bodies. We need to stop trying to fix the root problems with temporary band-aids!