"Worried About Eating Delivery Food Often" Obesity and COVID-19 Increase Vulnerability... Citizens Feel 'Anxious'

Obesity and COVID-19 Prevalence Increase by 1.35 Times, Study Finds
Civilians Express Concerns: "Ordering Food Daily...", "Gaining Weight Due to Lack of Exercise"
Experts Warn: "Lack of Exercise and Overeating May Cause Secondary Issues Like Metabolic Syndrome"

A report has emerged indicating that among deaths from the novel coronavirus infection, the mortality rate is higher in elderly individuals and those with underlying conditions such as obesity. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Recent studies have shown that obese individuals are more vulnerable to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), raising public concern. This is due to a surge in delivery food orders and a decrease in exercise frequency caused by social distancing measures, leading to weight gain in many cases.

In particular, reports indicate that the mortality rate from COVID-19 is higher among those with underlying conditions such as obesity, further increasing anxiety.

Experts analyze that obesity is problematic because it is likely accompanied by metabolic syndrome conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

The Washington Post in the U.S. cited research on June 9 (local time) showing that people with obesity beyond the normal weight range are more vulnerable to COVID-19.

According to the report, obesity increases the likelihood of various health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. It is also known to potentially worsen the condition when infected with COVID-19.

There is also evidence that obesity itself raises the risk of complications when infected with the COVID-19 virus. A recent study published in the British Medical Journal involving 5,200 COVID-19 patients found that 35% of them were obese, and the higher the body mass index, the greater the likelihood of hospitalization.

The researchers warned that weight gain can strain lung function and reduce respiratory capacity.

Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a researcher on obesity and dean of the School of Nutrition Science at Tufts University, pointed out that "(Obesity) is like pouring gasoline on a fire that is already burning."

Obese individuals and smokers were also found to have a higher risk of infection with the novel coronavirus or a greater risk of severe worsening. Photo by Yonhap News

There are also domestic research findings that obesity increases the risk of death from COVID-19.

The National Medical Center's Central Clinical Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases (Clinical Committee) held a press conference on May 25 and released the 'COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines,' explaining the correlation between underlying diseases and COVID-19.

According to the guidelines, risk factors related to severity and mortality include underlying diseases, cancer, obesity, and smoking.

The Clinical Committee reported that obesity acts as a factor increasing severity, respiratory failure, and mortality, estimating that obese individuals are 1.35 times more likely to contract COVID-19 than the general population.

As a result, anxiety about weight gain is rising among citizens. Due to social distancing, people are ordering delivery food more frequently at home, leading to weight gain.

Choi, a 30-year-old office worker, said, "Since COVID-19, I rarely dine out. These days, I either take out food after work or order delivery on my way home. I think I spend about 1 million won a month on delivery food." He added, "My weight keeps increasing, which stresses me out. I think I should eat less and exercise to prevent infection, but it's hard to put into practice."

Another office worker, Kim (29), said after reading an article about obesity being more dangerous for COVID-19, "Honestly, I order delivery at least once a day, so I am worried. When I checked, the number of delivery orders has increased significantly compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak."

He continued, "I've already gained about 5 kg from frequently eating delivery food. I haven't been to a hospital for an obesity test, but I feel my health is deteriorating. Not being able to exercise properly due to social distancing and gathering bans is also a problem. At this rate, I think I will really become obese," he lamented.

Delivery food orders have also surged since COVID-19. According to WiseApp, an app analytics company, on June 8, the total payment amount on four major delivery apps?Baedal Minjok, Yogiyo, Baedaltong, and Foodfly?reached 1.2 trillion won last month, about 30% more than 940 billion won in July. This is the highest amount recorded since data collection began, with an estimated 16.04 million users making payments during this period.

The company predicted that the actual payment amount and market size are larger, as on-site payments after ordering via delivery apps were excluded from the results.

As the possibility of a resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection cannot be ruled out, health authorities have emphasized health management for high-risk groups such as smokers and obese individuals. Photo by AP Yonhap News

The domestic obese population has been increasing annually. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's National Health and Nutrition Survey, the adult obesity rate was 34.8% in 2016 and was projected to rise to 39% by 2020.

According to data compiled by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, about one in three people (35%) are obese, which is lower than Western countries like the U.S., but the rate of increase is rapidly accelerating each year.

Health authorities have urged special caution for obese individuals. They advise that health management, including smoking cessation and weight control, is necessary to avoid being in the high-risk group for COVID-19.

At a regular briefing in April, Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, emphasized, "People who fall into the high-risk group for COVID-19, such as smokers and obese individuals, need to improve unhealthy habits."

Deputy Director Kwon added, "In addition to everyday quarantine measures, high-risk groups should improve unhealthy lifestyles to prepare for a resurgence of COVID-19. Please focus on and make efforts toward healthy living, such as quitting smoking and managing weight appropriately."

Experts expressed concern that prolonged social distancing could cause secondary damage such as metabolic syndrome due to lack of exercise and overeating.

Professor Kim Woo-joo of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "Obesity is a cause that increases mortality not only from COVID-19 but also from various infectious diseases. Obese individuals are more likely to have metabolic syndrome conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. One reason the U.S. has many severe cases and a high fatality rate is that the national obesity rate exceeds 40%."

He continued, "Although the obesity rate in Korea is still low, we cannot be complacent. Currently, people are refraining from outdoor activities, so physical activity is reduced, inevitably leading to weight gain. If social distancing continues for a long time, the entire population will suffer from lack of exercise. This could increase metabolic syndrome diseases and cause secondary damage," he warned.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.