The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended its coronavirus risk warning to people who are considered overweight, meaning more than 70% of U.S. Adults are at increased risk of serious COVID-19 related illness.
More than 71% of Americans aged 20 and over are considered overweight or obese, according to CDC statistics. Obesity is defined as a body mass index of 30 to 40, while severe obesity is diagnosed when the BMI is 40 or higher. Being overweight is classified as having a BMI of more than 25 but less than 30. The health agency now says that if you fall into that category, it “increases the risk of serious illness with COVID-19.”
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Other risk factors that may increase the risk of serious illness include asthma, cerebrovascular disease, cystic fibrosis, hypertension, immunocompromised state, neurologic conditions, liver disease, pregnancy, pulmonary fibrosis, thalassemia type 1 and thalassemia.
The CDC’s update follows numerous studies that have found that obesity can increase the risk of covid-19-related death, including one that has seen a 50% increase. A study from the same University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, found that people with a BMI over 30 are hospitalized or admitted to the ICU because of the virus. According to research, obesity is linked to other risk factors for the novel coronavirus identified by the CDC, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, liver disease and hypertension.
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Further, a person with obesity may experience metabolic changes, resulting in inflammation, insulin issues, and an immune system that impairs the body’s ability to fight covid-1 off. The researchers suggested preventive measures in obese people that are not in contrast to the measures listed by the CDC.
“Given the significant risk posed by covid-1 to obese individuals, healthy food policies may play a supportive role – and in particular the important role in covid-1 ality mortality and disease prevention,” said Barry Popkin, Ph.D. School of Global Public Health, said in a news release at the time.
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Additionally, the CDC recommends taking prescription medications for overweight, obesity, or severe obesity, following the recommendations of health care providers for nutrition and physical activity while maintaining social distance, worrying your health care provider, or feeling sick, and In the event that you do not have a health care provider, contact the nearest community health center or health department.
