Policy Briefing on Obesity and How Covid-19 Affected It

POLICY BRIEFING ON OBESITY by (Name)
Class (Course)Professor (Tutor)School (University)City and State Date
Executive Summary
Obesity is a severe health issue in the United Kingdom and around the world. The problem starts with increased weight gain in early childhood. More than one in five children in the UK is overweight or obese. Nearly two-thirds of adults in England have a BMI of 25kg/m2 and more, with similar figures in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (Blackshaw et al., 2020, p. 6). Evidence shows that excess weight is a risk factor for various chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, liver and respiratory disease, and many cancers (Blackshaw et al., 2020, p. 6). During the COVID-19 pandemic, experts pointed the severity of the illness and deaths to obesity and overweight. The risks seem to escalate with increasing BMI exceeding the healthy weight range. Further Evidence suggests that excess overweight may explain some of the observed disparities in COVID-19 outcomes among different population groups. This policy briefing demonstrates how obesity has affected COVID-19 post-pandemic and offers insights to inform policy and practice to support obesity patients.
Introduction
Excess body weight is one of the primary causes of poor health in the UK and globally due to its contribution to chronic conditions ranging from diabetes to cardiovascular disease, stroke, liver disease, and some cancers (Yu et al., 2021, p. 2). Present research found that obesity is a major risk factor for COVID-19 complications and mortality (Agha & Agha, 2017). These adverse effects call for the implementation of appropriate policies and actions intended to improve health and reduce the susceptibility of oversight individuals. Since COVID-19 began, attention has shifted towards people whose body mass index (BMI) exceeds acceptable range as they are at higher risk of severe illness. Research from the UK, China, Italy, France and US demonstrates a possible higher risk of complications and deaths from COVID-19 among overweight individuals (World Obesity Federation, 2020, p. 1).
Evidence from clinical settings indicates that higher BMI increases the risk of frequent hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and poor COVID-19 outcomes (Blackshaw et al., 2020, p. 28). BMI greater than 40 also increases the risk of a respiratory disease syndrome, a major COVID-19 complication (World Obesity Federation, p. 2). A UK report showed that out of 10, 465 critically ill patients with confirmed COVID-19, about 73.7% were obese or overweight (World Obesity Federation, 2020, p 2). In the same context, a report from Italy indicated that 99% of COVID-19 deaths occurred in patients with pre-existing conditions, including those observed in individuals with obesity. Therefore, clinical findings have demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that obesity is a leading risk factor for COID-19 complications and deaths.
Impact on Society
Obesity has social, economic, and psychological consequences, which impact society negatively. On the social aspect, studies show that obese persons are highly likely to encounter social problems, including discrimination. People with obesity are often excluded from certain occupations...