Weekly News Digest: Obesity and Covid 19 - 22nd June

Welcome to the sixth weekly digest of stories about COVID-19, obesity and related challenges from across the globe.

We are compiling stories from credible sources representing all regions of the world, including academic articles, position statements and mainstream news, amongst others. 

If you have signed up to our newsletter, we will be sending this digest to your inbox every Monday during the current pandemic. If you have any stories from your country or discipline, please send through to us at eneeds@worldobesity.org.

Mixing food with politics: how COVID-19 exposed inequalities in Brazil’s food supply chain (LSE)

This article analyses the impact of the coronavirus crisis on livelihoods and prices has on those with limited access to food in Brazil, particularly for those on lower incomes. Supply chains that fail to cover the “last mile” into poor urban communities are a significant part of the problem, and impressive community initiatives to meet nutritional needs are not enough to bridge that gap. The articles calls for the Brazilian government to cease point scoring and recognise real steps that it could take to achieve a more resilient, fairer, and healthier food system.

South Asian people in UK 20 per cent more likely to die of coronavirus, study finds (Telegraph)

This article analyses the results of a study that found people from South Asia were 20% more likely to die as a result of COVID-19, and South Asians admitted to hospital were on average 12 years younger than those from other ethnicities, and more likely to have diabetes. The increased risk of dying correlates with the increased prevalence of obesity in this region.

Coronavirus gives new urgency to Europe’s obesity problem (Politico)

This article references the correlation between obesity and the severity of COVID-19 on those living with obesity. It calls for government action in a post-covid world to confront obesity more actively within central policy making and the need for dietary habits to change to follow suit.

Prevention and control of NCDs at core of COVID-19 response (WHO)

This release from the World Health Organization references the recent Lancet work. For people with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes or cancer, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on their health, revealing how vulnerable they are. As such, it issues directions for Europe primarily in response.

Included Lancet piece: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31067-9/fulltext

Why coronavirus affects people differently (Live Mint)

This article reviews the reasoning as to why different people have different outcomes when it comes to COVID-19, pointing to BMI as one of the most clear signs of differentiating outcomes. Reviewing recent studies, COVID-19 patients with a body mass index between 30 and 34 -- obese under CDC definitions -- were two folds as likely to be admitted to the ICU than patients with a BMI under 30. Those with a BMI of 35 and over were three folds more likely to die than those with a healthy BMI the article states.

• Cinnamon Rolls to the Rescue in New York's COVID-19 Lockdown (NY Times)
• Coronavirus: Report on BAME Covid-19 deaths sparks call for action (BBC)
• Obesity, heart disease hike Covid risk (The Manila Times)
• Call for action to address malnutrition in all its forms (IOL South Africa)
• COVID-19 affects men more than women and this could be the reason why, according to scientists (World Economic Forum)
• Saira Khan: We need to get a grip on obesity crisis before coronavirus claims more lives (The Mirror)
• Food industry's fuelling of obesity means it must 'share blame' for severity of coronavirus, experts say (Telegraph)
• 87% of COVID-19 victims in Iran have underlying illnesses, obesity (Tehran Times)
• Coronavirus: Tackling obesity 'must be part of recovery plan' (BBC)

Middle East spotlight

• High diabetes and obesity rates complicate GCC's coronavirus fight (Arab News)
• Age, sex, obesity, and underlying illness risk factors for severe COVID-19 (Gulf news)
• Coronavirus: Obese people more likely to die from Covid-19, study shows (The National)
• Coronavirus: Doctors tell diabetics why they must stay protected (Gulf news)
• COVID-19: Stuck at home, the world is eating less sugar (Gulf news)
• COVID-19 diet: Are you eating right?  (Gulf news)