COVID-19, Obesity, and Structural Racism: Understanding the Past and Identifying Solutions for the Future

• Published in: Cell Metabolism Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 234 - 241
• Main Authors: Bleich, Sara N., Ard, Jamy D.
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 02.02.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Black or African American; COVID-19; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - ethnology; COVID-19 - pathology; COVID-19 - virology; Health Equity; Health Policy; Health Status Disparities; Humans; legacy of slavery; obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - ethnology; Obesity - pathology; Politics; SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification; structural racism; COVID-19; structural racism; legacy of slavery; obesity
• ISSN: 1550-4131; 1932-7420
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.01.010

Long-standing systemic inequalities—fueling unequal access to critical resources such as healthcare, housing, education, and employment opportunities—are largely responsible for the significant race disparities in obesity and COVID-19. Because of this legacy, public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impact communities of color, exacerbated by high rates of pre-existing chronic diseases like obesity. Learning from this history is instructive for understanding our present situation and for crafting effective solutions that promote health equity. Critical action is needed now to meaningfully address the disproportionate impact of these major public health problems on Black and Brown populations. Meaningfully addressing the twin pandemics of obesity and COVID-19 requires a deliberate focus on addressing long-standing structural racism. While there has been some progress, policy makers need to act now and make a commitment to prioritizing health equity. Research will be critical to support these efforts now and in the future.