Beware, Doctor Says Obesity Can Cause Long COVID

Illustration, obese people with Long COVID symptoms, have a longer recovery period and find it difficult to manage their chronic condition. (Unsplash/@canweallgo)

JAKARTA - A clinic that treats Long COVID patients in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), United Arab Emirates revealed that 62 percent of their patients are overweight or obese.

This figure was obtained from research on the symptoms and health conditions of about 3,277 patients, in the period between March to December last year, as quoted by The National News Tuesday, August 12.

The data from the RAK Hospital health and lifestyle study add to the evidence that overweight patients and those with health problems are more likely to suffer complications related to Long COVID.

Medical researchers also found that 26 percent of those requiring hospitalization were inactive and led a sedentary lifestyle, while 68 percent had at least one additional chronic disease.

This makes clinical programs for those recovering from COVID-19 include advice on weight management and how to reverse obesity.

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"Obesity is one of the main risk factors for severe complications in COVID-19", said Prof Adrian Kennedy, Chief Wellness Officer at RAK Hospital.

"Perhaps no single medical condition causes more complications and is associated with greater morbidity and mortality than obesity. It has been argued time and again that overweight people are at greater risk of developing severe COVID-19 disease and its complications", he continued.

The COVID-19 rehabilitation program facility was launched in March 2021, in collaboration with ARISE UAE, the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster-Resilient Communities, a network of private sector entities led by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

It has become a lifeline for some, who have struggled with the side effects of the COVID-19 infection. Meanwhile, obesity has been linked to several other chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, asthma, and mental health.

To note, there are more than 200 symptoms that have been associated with Long COVID, making it difficult to be medically diagnosed as a specific condition. Typical signs include shortness of breath, confusion, and fatigue.

Illustration. (Unsplash/@bill_oxford)

In addition, symptoms of chest pain, anxiety, depression, muscle aches, fever, and persistent loss of smell and taste have also been reported. All of these symptoms can last up to nine months.

While experts don't yet fully understand what causes Long COVID, or why it occurs in some people and not in others, it is understood to be related to the body's natural immune response.

In some cases, COVID-19 infection causes the immune system to fight the virus and attack the body's own tissues at the same time.

Another theory is that the viral fragments are dormant, then reactivate during the recovery period, as happens with some other viruses, such as the herpes virus.

Separately, Dr. Raza Siddiqui, executive director of RAK Hospital said their experience with patients who were found to be overweight dramatically increased the risk of hospital admission during an infection.

"Obesity is associated with impaired immune function and can double the risk of hospitalization for infection. Obese people with Long COVID symptoms experience a longer recovery period and find it difficult to manage their chronic condition", said Raza.

"The good news is, proper guidance and technique can help reduce problems, making a person's transition to a normal life much quicker".