On today’s Morning Media Update, The University of Kansas Health System reports an uptick in the number of COVID-19 patients today versus last Friday. There are 22 people with the active virus being treated, an increase from 10 on Friday. Of those patients, seven are in the ICU, up from four on Friday. Two patients are on ventilators. HaysMed has one active infection, up from zero on Friday.
In today’s session, Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, answered some key questions about the latest COVID-19 developments, including the prevalence of the Delta variant. He reported that about 75 percent of hospitalized patients at the Health System with COVID-19 are unvaccinated. The majority of breakthrough infections are hospitalized for other reasons than COVID-19. Breakthough infections among the very sick have one or more other health factors impacting their overall susceptibility such as heart disease, COP, cancer and/or diabetes.
Vaccinations continue to offer good protection, Dr. Hawkinson says. “We know that the vaccines are working against the Delta variant – we do have an immune response. That does us protect us from the Delta variant and all of the variants right now that we have seen.”
He also answered a question about the discrepancy between the WHO’s guidance on masking versus the CDC’s, reiterating that the WHO shares guidance for countries all over the world, while the CDC focuses on what is most appropriate for the U.S. Because the vaccines are so plentiful and effective in the U.S., the guidance is different here than in other countries who may not be as lucky with vaccines.
Dr. Hawkinson also underscored that getting the vaccine does not mean you will not get the virus or spread it. “There’s not a lot of change in the chance of getting it per se, the vaccine is just going to overall decrease that whole spectrum of disease, whether it’s symptomatic disease, whether it’s a slight cough or sore throat for a couple of days, but especially going to the hospital with severe illness – getting the vaccine will definitely help reduce all of that.”
Host Jessica Lovell then introduced today’s topic of weight gain over the pandemic – another “COVID 19” – as in the 19-20 pounds of weight gain. Joining her was Dr. Gregory Nawalanic, the Clinical Director of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The University of Kansas Health System and Bobi McCumber, the Clinical Program Coordinator for the Geriatric Weight Loss Surgery Services at the Health System.
There are many factors that have gone into weight gain over the pandemic period for different people, says Dr. Nawalanic. For example, when people stopped having to go to the office, some stopped wearing work clothes, which served as a gauge to help us track how we are doing with our weight. “Elastic is your best friend or worst enemy,” he says. “It’s a double-edged sword.”
Dr. Nawalanic said that since the days of our ancestors, we have an inherent desire to use food as a coping mechanism – gathering as much food as we could to help sustain ourselves over a long period during times of crisis. “So in the case of a global pandemic, that is the type of situation that’s going to cause us to go into that other response.”
While we get a little lift from snacking on junk food in the short term, it can become habit-forming and that’s where we can get into problems. “Unfortunately, it’s a lot easier to make an instantaneous choice that makes us feel better, rather than delaying that and saying ‘you know what, I’m going to think long-term here.’”
McCumber said she never really struggled with weight until she turned 30. Over the course of nine months to a year, she lost about 115 pounds after bariatric surgery and a change in habits. “I’m three and a half years out from my surgery and I still have to really watch what I eat. There’s so many so many things like your condiments and stuff that are empty calories that you don’t realize how much you’re really taking in until you write it down.”
She encourages people to celebrate small wins. “Celebrate little wins – just take it one pound at a time,” she says.
According to a recent study by JAMA, people gained about 1.5 pounds per month between February and June 2020.
“When we get into obsessing over our weight or appearance, it adds another level of anxiety,” says Dr. Nawalanic, who notes that people who eat more are many times doing so because of stress, so it’s adding to an already stressful situation. “There can be a lot of anxiety. There’s a lot of shame around weight gain. Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand.”
He says drinking alcohol may be a factor in weight gain – and an increase in tolerance means an increase in intake. The calories add up and so does the weight. He said that personally, by just cutting out alcohol, he was able to drop 15 pounds. He said it is important to make an active choice and take the right steps. Maladaptive coping – eating and drinking – can be a default reaction, but he urges people to stop and think about those decisions before automatically doing it. For example, taking a walk or meditation and deep breathing exercises instead can make a world of difference. “We want to derail this whole plan (of automatic bad choices), so anything that we can build in between the impulse and the act is going to help. And engage in that thoughtful control and the ability to say ‘hey, let’s just take a break and the impulse will pass.’”
Dr. Nawalanic recommended that coming out of a holiday weekend, now is a good time to start making a change. “You are your purpose. If you decide this is a road you want to travel, it’s up to you.”
He also highlighted an upcoming partnership for a Major League Baseball mental wellness game on July 27 with the Kansas City Royals (Royals.com/mentalwellness), the first time in MLB history something like this is being done. $5 for each ticket goes to Marillac – The University of Kansas Health System’s child and adolescent in-house mental health facility.
Wednesday, July 7 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. Bryan Mann will talk about losing – and keeping off – 80 pounds, and Tara Marchello, Dietician at The University of Kansas Health System, will share additional tips and insights.
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