Covid-19 and obesity: two allied diseases

Abstract

In November 2019, the existence of a new virus, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, is known, which causes the COVID-19 pandemic. The discomfort caused by this virus varies between mild and very serious, even causing the death of patients, a characteristic that is accentuated by its great contagion capacity and the absence of a cure or vaccine to counteract its effects. The measures that have been taken worldwide have consisted of the social isolation of people. The pre-existence of obesity favors the spread of COVID-19 and can aggravate the disease, which in a large number of cases results in the death of patients. On the other hand, many of the COVID-19 control measures affect the daily life of society. The isolation, stress and sedentary lifestyle caused by these measures can produce an uncontrolled increase in weight in people with normal weight or increase even more weight in people who are already overweight or obese. It is concluded that physical exercise and healthy eating should be promoted within the possibilities provided by health measures to control this pandemic.