Officials put entire Long Island town on a diet to lower coronavirus risks driven by obesity

Health officials are putting an entire Long Island town on a diet to drive down rising obesity rates amid the coronavirus pandemic.

With many of us stuck in our homes – ordering take-out and stress eating – a weight gain phenomenon has emerged nicknamed the ‘Quarantine 15.’

Now, doctors and fitness instructors in Huntington, which has about 200,000 residents, are introducing a voluntary healthy lifestyle and exercise program.

They say that obesity and obesity-related conditions are very serious risk factors in COVID-19 cases and that reducing the number of overweight residents will also reduce the number of coronavirus patients.

Health officials are introducing a voluntary healthy lifestyle and exercise program for the town of Huntington, Long Island in New York. Pictured: The announcement of the program at a press conference on Wednesday

Studies have shown that chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure can increase the risk of infection and death (file image)

Intelligence Fitness, a local gym, will be offering free exercise and yoga classes via Zoom and will bring workout equipment to residents’ homes (file image)

‘We’re bringing attention to this issue because the quality of our health is more important than ever,’ Dr William Spencer, chairman of the Suffolk County Legislature Committee on Health, said at a press conference on Wednesday.

‘As we slowly work our way out of this crisis, it is important for us to make healthy choices…so we need to take charge of the situation.’

Currently, 42.4 percent of the US adult population is obese as are 18.5 percent of American children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Obesity is a known risk factor for several chronic health conditions including type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart attack and even certain types of cancer.

Experts have warned that the proportion of obese adults will only grow as younger generations do.

It has quickly emerged that being overweight and/or obese is a major risk factor for people infected with the coronavirus.

Dr David Buchin (pictured), Huntington Hospital’s director of bariatric surgery, will offer nutritional advice and do Facebook Live videos on healthy eating topics

Past research ha shown that chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure can increase the risk of infection and death.

Additionally, a recent study from the University of Michigan School of Public Health found that obese adults who become infected with the flu are not only at a greater risk of severe complications, but remain contagious longer.

Although it is unclear why obese adults are more contagious, scientists believe it may be that that obesity changes the body’s immune response and leads to chronic inflammation.

A CDC report last month found that of 178 adult patients with underlying conditions, 48.3 percent were obese.

Dr David Buchin, Huntington Hospital’s director of bariatric surgery, announced a healthy lifestyle program will be going up on his website that will include a section on diet and a section on exercise.

Nutritional advice will be from Buchin’s practice and he will conduct several Facebook live events on topics such as how obesity can put you at greater risk of contracting COVID-19, how to control emotional eating, and how to shop healthily.

For the exercise portion of the program, Intelligence Fitness, a local boutique gym, will be offering free fitness and yoga classes via Zoom.

Obese people who become infected with the flu are not only at a greater risk of severe complications but remain contagious longer. Pictured: US Army service members examine a patient’s X-ray results at the Javits New York Medical Station in New York City, April 24

Phil Sottile, the founder of Intelligent Fitness, told reporters that employees will even bring equipment to people’s houses.

‘As far as health is concerned, when you exercise it reduces stress and anxiety…helps to manage glucose metabolism, which is some of the situations and conditions that create diabetes and complications from diabetes,’ he said.

‘Preventative care is at the forefront of reducing all of the expenses associated with medical management, especially in insurance and going to the doctor.’

Andrew Raia, the town’s clerk, says he’s one of the many Long Islanders who eats to relieve stress or goes to a drive-thru window at the end of a long work day, but hopes to change that.

‘[Let’s] make this COVID-19 tragedy into something good. Set a new lifestyle for yourself. Take the necessary step to turn things around because this virus is going to be with us for sometime,’ he said on Wednesday.

‘I look forward…to turning the health of Huntingtonians and really all New Yorkers and those across the country around.’