Can a high BMI put you at risk for contracting Covid-19?
Obese individuals are not at greater risk of contracting Covid-19. They are, however, 113% more at risk of being admitted to a hospital than their (healthier) peers, and 48% more likely to die from the virus if contracted
No big secret, many of the victims of Covid-19 have been reported being obese; and the trend is continuing towards medical experts proving a strong correlation between being overweight and more risk of suffering major complications in conjunction with contracting the virus. Please note though, that obese people are more at risk of suffering severe consequences – they are, however; not more prone to contracting the virus
According to Obesity reviews, obese people having contracted Covid-19 were a whopping 113% more at risk of being admitted to a hospital than their (healthier) peers, and 48% more likely to die from the virus
But why are obese individuals more at risk for dying from the virus?
Doctors point to typical weaknesses such as chronic inflammations, impaired immune defenses, and high hemoglobin levels that may contribute to blood clots – all commonly known side effects of being obese and scoring high on the BMI scale
Imagine then, the risk faced in the U.S where up to four in ten Americans are reportedly obese of which a majority already suffers from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart disease… Add to this the typical American diet that involves high fluctuations in blood sugar levels that in turn triggers high blood pressure, and we end up with having a large part of the population starting the battle against Covid-19 with some major disadvantages
The disturbing fact of the matter is that out of 17 000 hospitalized patients with Covid-19 in the US, almost 30% were reported being overweight (BMI range between 25 & 29) and even more worryingly, 48% were obese (BMI range between 29 & 40)
And please do not think that the US is alone in this, because a range of other countries is reporting identical findings. In fact, the UK is also on a worrying path, reporting that 20% of year 6 children were classified as obese in 2018.
In the UK, even Prime Minister Boris Johnson realized the danger of having a population scoring high on the BMI range and thus introduced a national slimming down campaign in order to combat the lethal effects of Corona
According to ScienceMag.com, obese people and/or people scoring high on the BMI scale carry so much fat that it tends to displace the organs internally and put pressure on the lungs, thus decreasing airflow. This again leads to reduced volume in the lungs and the reduced capacity puts you at a major disadvantage when Covid-19 attacks and you need all the oxygenation you can possibly get
Imagine then, that obese individuals already at risk for blood clotting are being subjected to a virus that also promotes blood clothing… The mix is lethal and no doubt – scoring high on the BMI range is bad news in this context
Immune defense is also weakened in people with a high BMI score (if scoring high due to obesity), as fat tends to corrupt organs producing immune cells… in turn, rendering our bodies less efficient when it comes to battling infections. Definitely, a devastating situation to be in, considering the fact that obese people are not only producing less immune cells but that the cells produced are also functioning less than optimal
