1+1=2
Nearly half of US adults projected to be obese by 2030
by Nardy Baeza Bickel, University of Michigan
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
Adults with obesity are more susceptible to influenza A/H1N1pdm—the swine flu virus, according to a new study that did not, however, find a similar association with the seasonal flu.
The results could be relevant in understanding the mechanisms by which infectious diseases such as influenza or the ongoing coronavirus pandemic might affect different segments of the population, the researchers say.
"This research is important because obesity around the whole world is increasing rapidly. It's approximately tripled since the '70s," said first author Hannah Maier, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
"We're having a lot more obesity, right now we're dealing with the pandemic, and it was just announced that there might be another potential swine flu pandemic. If obesity is associated with increased risk and there's a lot more obesity, that could mean a lot more infections."
Maier and colleagues looked at data from more than 1,500 individuals in 330 households enrolled in the Nicaraguan Household Transmission Study, an ongoing community-based study tracking the health of a community in Managua, Nicaragua. Study participants were followed 10 to 15 days and given swab tests and blood tests to confirm infection.
The study found that adults with obesity had twice the odds of symptomatic H1N1 infection compared to those without obesity. The association was not seen with the H3N2 seasonal influenza strain.
While the mechanism linking obesity to increased disease severity is not yet known, chronic inflammation increases with age and is associated with chronic diseases. Separate studies have shown that obesity increases proinflammatory and decreases anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, the researchers say. Obesity can also impair wound healing and lead to mechanical difficulties in breathing and increased oxygen requirements.
In 2009, a strain of flu affecting pigs jumped to humans. This virus, H1N1pdm, infected many people around the world.
Just this week, a new study states that a new strain of H1N1 in swine in China has the potential to become a pandemic, highlighting the importance of continuing this type of research even while facing the coronavirus pandemic, said senior author Aubree Gordon, an epidemiologist at U-M's School of Public Health.
"This underscores that although we are in the middle of a pandemic, we cannot stop being vigilant for the emergence of other viruses, particularly influenza," she said. "In addition, this highlights that the U.S. needs to participate in the World Health Organization. The WHO influenza program provides a critical service to the world monitoring influenza circulation to make vaccine strain recommendations and surveilling for potential emergence of new influenza viruses."
Explore further
Adults with obesity are more susceptible to influenza A/H1N1pdm—the swine flu virus, according to a new study that did not, however, find a similar association with the seasonal flu.
The results could be relevant in understanding the mechanisms by which infectious diseases such as influenza or the ongoing coronavirus pandemic might affect different segments of the population, the researchers say.
"This research is important because obesity around the whole world is increasing rapidly. It's approximately tripled since the '70s," said first author Hannah Maier, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
"We're having a lot more obesity, right now we're dealing with the pandemic, and it was just announced that there might be another potential swine flu pandemic. If obesity is associated with increased risk and there's a lot more obesity, that could mean a lot more infections."
Maier and colleagues looked at data from more than 1,500 individuals in 330 households enrolled in the Nicaraguan Household Transmission Study, an ongoing community-based study tracking the health of a community in Managua, Nicaragua. Study participants were followed 10 to 15 days and given swab tests and blood tests to confirm infection.
The study found that adults with obesity had twice the odds of symptomatic H1N1 infection compared to those without obesity. The association was not seen with the H3N2 seasonal influenza strain.
While the mechanism linking obesity to increased disease severity is not yet known, chronic inflammation increases with age and is associated with chronic diseases. Separate studies have shown that obesity increases proinflammatory and decreases anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, the researchers say. Obesity can also impair wound healing and lead to mechanical difficulties in breathing and increased oxygen requirements.
In 2009, a strain of flu affecting pigs jumped to humans. This virus, H1N1pdm, infected many people around the world.
Just this week, a new study states that a new strain of H1N1 in swine in China has the potential to become a pandemic, highlighting the importance of continuing this type of research even while facing the coronavirus pandemic, said senior author Aubree Gordon, an epidemiologist at U-M's School of Public Health.
"This underscores that although we are in the middle of a pandemic, we cannot stop being vigilant for the emergence of other viruses, particularly influenza," she said. "In addition, this highlights that the U.S. needs to participate in the World Health Organization. The WHO influenza program provides a critical service to the world monitoring influenza circulation to make vaccine strain recommendations and surveilling for potential emergence of new influenza viruses."
Explore further
New swine flu strain found in China poses threat of pandemic
More information: Hannah E Maier et al. Obesity is associated with increased susceptibility to influenza A (H1N1pdm) but not H3N2 infection, Clinical Infectious Diseases (2020). DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa928
More information: Hannah E Maier et al. Obesity is associated with increased susceptibility to influenza A (H1N1pdm) but not H3N2 infection, Clinical Infectious Diseases (2020). DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa928
Journal information: Clinical Infectious Diseases
Provided by University of Michigan
Nearly half of US adults projected to be obese by 2030
by From Mayo Clinic News Network
Provided by University of Michigan
Nearly half of US adults projected to be obese by 2030
by From Mayo Clinic News Network
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
For decades, obesity rates in the U.S. have been increasing. Now researchers predict that by 2030, nearly half of adults will be obese if the current trend continues.
Dr. Donald Hensrud, director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, says that projection is concerning because obesity is related to a number of health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.
"From a health standpoint, it will contribute to decreased health status in the United States. Also, we spend a lot of money because of that, and, so, health care costs are going to continue to rise, and our quality of life and other things are going to continue to deteriorate," says Dr. Hensrud.
To reverse this trend, it's important to understand what has contributed to the obesity epidemic.
"There are many outside factors that influence obesity," explains Dr. Hensrud. "We've engineered physical activity out of our lives. A simple example I use is that we don't have to walk into the gas station to pay for our gas anymore. We just swipe at the pump. If we do things like that hundreds of times during the day and we're less active at work, all of that corresponds with decreased activity and increased weight."
Another factor is what we eat. He says the food supply has changed, and people are eating a lot of processed, higher-calorie foods.
"If we're going to reverse this trend, it's going to require cooperation of many different areas in society," Dr. Hensrud says. "All of us have some responsibility, but it's hard. It's like swimming upstream, but it's not impossible. We can each do some things, take baby steps, do a little bit more activity, change our diet a little bit and do it in a practical and enjoyable manner to make these habits sustainable."
Explore further
For decades, obesity rates in the U.S. have been increasing. Now researchers predict that by 2030, nearly half of adults will be obese if the current trend continues.
Dr. Donald Hensrud, director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, says that projection is concerning because obesity is related to a number of health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.
"From a health standpoint, it will contribute to decreased health status in the United States. Also, we spend a lot of money because of that, and, so, health care costs are going to continue to rise, and our quality of life and other things are going to continue to deteriorate," says Dr. Hensrud.
To reverse this trend, it's important to understand what has contributed to the obesity epidemic.
"There are many outside factors that influence obesity," explains Dr. Hensrud. "We've engineered physical activity out of our lives. A simple example I use is that we don't have to walk into the gas station to pay for our gas anymore. We just swipe at the pump. If we do things like that hundreds of times during the day and we're less active at work, all of that corresponds with decreased activity and increased weight."
Another factor is what we eat. He says the food supply has changed, and people are eating a lot of processed, higher-calorie foods.
"If we're going to reverse this trend, it's going to require cooperation of many different areas in society," Dr. Hensrud says. "All of us have some responsibility, but it's hard. It's like swimming upstream, but it's not impossible. We can each do some things, take baby steps, do a little bit more activity, change our diet a little bit and do it in a practical and enjoyable manner to make these habits sustainable."
Explore further
Packing on pounds during COVID-19 and how to turn it around
©2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
16 shares
©2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
16 shares
No comments:
Post a Comment