Updated: COVID-19 has some Kentuckians supporting government action to reduce obesity
Obesity is more prevalent in Kentucky than most other states, and COVID-19 has led some residents to support government intervention to address the problem, according to a new study.
More than one-third of surveyed Kentucky adults believe the government should make more of an effort to combat obesity in the state after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study conducted by MyBioSource.com, a biotechnological products distribution company. The survey did not say what action the government should take, but BioSource noted Britain cracked down on junk food product advertising in July.
Advertisements for any food high in fat, sugar or salt are banned on television and online until 9 p.m., and two-for-one promotions or deals on the same products also were stopped, according to the British government and media.
Kentucky is one of 12 states in which the obesity prevalence rate is over 35 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kentucky also has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the United States, according to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. About 38 percent of Kentucky children ages 10 to 17 are considered overweight or obese, according to CHFS.
More than 90 percent of COVID-19 deaths have occurred in people also dealing with other conditions, according to the CDC.
“Obesity does seem to be a significant risk factor contributing to the severity of COVID illness,” said Dave Peterson, community programs manager at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. “A lot of the mortality has been in those who are obese.”
Individuals infected with COVID-19 who are also obese have triple the risk of having severe illness and being hospitalized, Peterson said. And those who are considered “severely obese” have four times the risk of severe illness, he said.
Nearly 7,000 people who died from COVID-19 were obese, according to the CDC.
Of those surveyed by MyBioSource.com, 34 percent didn’t think there was a clear link between obesity and coronavirus complications.
Obesity can also lead to the development of diabetes, which has been present in more than 30,000 people who have died of COVID-19 in the country, according to the CDC. Diabetes is one of the most frequent underlying conditions among COVID-19 victims.
Kentucky’s diabetes rate is the fifth-highest in the United States, according to the CDC, and it ranked seventh among the state’s leading causes of death in 2017.
Obesity can lead to other harmful conditions.
“Diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol issues, you name it,” Peterson said. “Obesity seems to be a big driver in a lot of those negative health outcomes.”
The pandemic has encouraged more people to lose weight, according to the study. One in five Kentucky residents surveyed said the pandemic prompted them to try to drop pounds. Some are developing daily workout routines or eating healthier meals while they work from home, according to the study.
More than half the people surveyed also said they would encourage people they know who are overweight to lose weight to reduce the risk of COVID-19 complications if they got infected, according to the study.
Kentucky ranked in the top 15 for having the highest percentage of people who believe the government should work to combat obesity, according to the study.
The local health department has seen that increased concern too, Peterson said. Attendance for virtual classes about diabetes and pre-diabetes has increased. The health department has made efforts to provide support for people concerned about obesity, offering free services to educate people about dietary plans and proper nutrition, Peterson said.
This story was originally published September 30, 2020 at 12:59 PM.