COVID-19: healthy lifestyles reduce risk

Healthy lifestyles reduce risk. Across 119 studies, exercise, sunlight, a healthy diet, and good sleep have all shown statistically significant efficacy for SARS-CoV-2, just as they have for other viruses2-5. They also all have connections to other treatments found effective:

Healthy lifestyles may reduce risk even after infection. Most studies examine outcomes based on lifestyles before infection. What about during infection? Logically, healthy lifestyles may still be beneficial, especially prior to later stage disease, and within limits(b). Hossain et al.127 predict lower mortality for increased sunlight exposure before about 7 days after infection. In hospitalized patients, Fernandez et al.60 show lower mortality with exercise, and Pereira et al.6 show faster recovery with near-infrared light.

Pandemic measures negatively affected lifestyles. A study of 1.2 million people worldwide showed a significant decline in physical activity during the pandemic128. A meta analysis found that 25 of 25 studies showed a decrease in physical activity129. Adults at high risk of severe COVID-19 were more likely to be physically inactive130. There were unfavorable changes in diet131,132 and sleep132,133. Lockdowns increased the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency134,135. A review showed negative effects for mental health, physical activity, and obesity136, and people with poor health status may have been more likely to have unfavorable lifestyle changes, compounding risk137. Fear, stress, and loneliness increase risk for poor COVID-19 outcomes138, and were amplified by the isolation and uncertainty of pandemic measures, along with inaccurate depictions of risk and available treatments. The pandemic was associated with increased weight and higher prevalence of hypertension in adolescents in the USA139, and a substantial increase in global hunger and malnutrition140. Overweight and underweight both increase risk for COVID-19141.