Severe COVID-19 outcomes - the role of physical activity

Abstract

COVID-19 has been described as a syndemic of COVID-19 and chronic diseases. Obesity has been identified as a contributing factor to morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19; however, sedentary behaviours and lack of physical activity should also be targeted by health authorities to reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Fig. 1. Physical activity as a key upstream target to reduce the risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.

Available evidence suggests that some features of disrupted metabolism, including inflammation, result from a high-risk adiposity phenotype (excess visceral adiposity or ectopic adipose tissue). As regular physical activity and exercise can reduce the size of these adipose depots, a physically active lifestyle might be a key, inexpensive, behaviour to adopt to reduce the risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. However, combining population-based approaches promoting an active lifestyle with the assessment of physical activity and/or cardiorespiratory fitness and sedentary behaviours as ‘vital signs’ in clinical practice will be required. IGT, impaired glucose tolerance.