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Doctors have long known that overweight people die more often than average after being infected with the coronavirus. Now it is clear: according to the American scientific journal Science, this is due to physical but also social factors. On the one hand, being overweight weakens the immune system, promotes chronic inflammation and favors the formation of blood clots. All of this can make coronavirus disease worse.
People who are overweight also tend to suffer from other diseases that increase the risk of a severe course with the coronavirus. These include heart and lung disease, as well as diabetes. And: overweight people often feel discriminated against and therefore visit a doctor less often, sometimes with devastating consequences.
Risk of death increases by 48 percent
First, a summary of several studies, a so-called meta-analysis, confirmed the connection between obesity and the increase in deaths. The authors then determined from data from about 399,000 patients that overweight coronavirus patients are 113 percent more likely to end up in the hospital than those of normal weight.
The possibility of going to an intensive care unit increases by 74 percent; the risk of dying as a result of the virus increases by 48 percent.
Take special care
Researchers in the scientific journal “Science” advise overweight people to be especially careful. Corona virus infection should be avoided at all costs, they warn. “To do this, it is important to observe all relevant measures, such as wearing a mask,” he continues.
It would also help to exercise and try to lose some weight. That would greatly reduce the risk of a severe course of coronavirus disease. Anyone with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 25 is considered overweight; from a BMI of 30 we speak of obesity. (support)
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