TED’S TAKE / COVID-19 AMPLIFIES IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING AND MANAGING OBESITY

The intense impact of COVID-19 continues playing out in new headlines each day, but it’s important we step back – both as a medical community and as individuals – and consider the various ways we can prevent serious harm from this disease and others.

The article below notes that obesity is a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19 illness and death and it remains associated with all leading causes of death in the U.S. – diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.

The pandemic underscores the urgency of preventive care and addressing social determinants in a meaningful way.

PEW: Pandemic Health Inequities Expose Need for Greater Obesity Prevention