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The current coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted society on a global scale in a way that would have been hard to conceptualize given our advancements and current understanding of medicine and science. It is a harsh reminder of how vulnerable human beings and the society still are.1 Moreover, while obviously different from the current health crisis caused by COVID-19, our society has been living with several other significant health conditions, such as obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, and other noncommunicable diseases (eg, hypertension and other cardiovascular disease, certain forms of cancer, respiratory disease, and mental health conditions) that have all been characterized as pandemics as well.2-5 More troublesome is the increased risk of poor outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in those individuals suffering from the invisible pandemics we, as a global society, have lived with for some time.6 As a prime example, obesity is associated with an increased risk of mortality among patients with COVID-19.7,8 The current health crisis precipitated by COVID-19, as well as the aforementioned invisible pandemics, highlights that traditional medical treatments are, in and of themselves, insufficient in protecting individuals from a poor health outcome (ie, premature morbidity and mortality); strong efforts and investments should be made to create a more resilient society, able to better resist threats from current and future pandemics.9 In this context, healthy living behaviors such as physical activity and high cardiorespiratory fitness, good nutrition, appropriate body weight, not smoking, and sleep and stress management currently stand as the most promising medicine for pandemic event protection.10-19 Simply stated, individuals who adopt healthy living behaviors have better resilience and a significantly better health trajectory. Perhaps the single most important lesson we finally learn from the COVID-19 pandemic is that the world must become a healthier place for all inhabitants.

 

In this context, the Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL-PIVOT) network (Figure) has recently been launched, bringing a global group together with the united goal of promoting human resilience and quality of life through healthy living initiatives.20 The main pillars of the HL-PIVOT network are knowledge discovery, education, policy, and implementation. The present infographic aims to introduce the HL-PIVOT network in a pedagogical and illustrative format.

  

Figure. Introducing the Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL-PIVOT) Network.

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exercise; lifestyle; nutrition; physical activity; prevention