“Covibesity,” a new pandemic
Moien AB Khana b✉, Jane Elizabeth Moverley Smithc
- aDepartment of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates
- bPrimary Care, NHS North West London, London, TW3 3EB, United Kingdom
- cBodreinallt Surgery, NHS Wales, Conwy, LL32 8AT, United Kingdom
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
The COVID-19 lockdown produced behavioral, psychosocial and environmental changes which, through a variety of mechanisms, has led to widespread rapid weight gain amongst certain populations worldwide. We have termed this phenomenon 'covibesity'. There has been an increase in food shopping, food take ways and increase in alcohol sales. Furthermore, the combination of working from home, on-line education and social media usage have all caused screen time to surge. The food industry has intensified on-line advertising focused on children. A swift response is needed from all stakeholders to prevent covibesity becoming a pandemic.