At the beginning of the pandemic, the researchers established that obesity was a risk factor for COVID-19. The CDC considers it one of the factors that put you at “higher risk.” Now, a new study has found that even those who are mildly obese, even those with a body mass index (BMI) of around 30, are at risk of serious coronavirus infection and even death.
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Even mild obesity increases your risk
The newspaper, published this week in the European Journal of Endocrinology, analyzed data from 482 COVID-19 patients in Italy between March and April when the virus peaked in the area.
A fifth of the patients had a BMI of 30 or more, which falls into the “obesity” category. People close to 30 are considered “mildly obese,” while anyone with a BMI of 40 and above is considered “severely obese.” The researchers found that even those with a BMI between 30 and 34.9 had an increased risk of respiratory failure and ICU admission, while a BMI of 35, representing 20 patients in the study, “dramatically increases the Death risk”. The authors wrote in the study.
Of all the patients who were considered obese, 52 percent had respiratory failure, 36 percent were admitted to the ICU, 25 percent were connected to a ventilator, and 30 percent died within 30 days of their first symptoms. .
The study co-author and bariatric surgeon Dr. Matteo Rottoli, from the Alma Mater Studiorum University in Bologna, explained to Newsweek He knew that obesity could be a factor in other diseases. After seeing young, obese patients with severe coronavirus infections, he wanted to bond.
“Our study showed that even mild obesity carries a very high risk,” he explained. “The metabolic status of patients plays a major role in the appearance and development of COVID-19, and obesity is the condition that most affects metabolism.”
Use caution – your weight doesn’t matter
Expect people with mild obesity to take prevention methods seriously. “The importance of social distancing, wearing masks, and avoiding meetings should be further emphasized,” he said. “We do not know if losing weight could prevent these risks in people with obesity. However, it is reasonable to think that a healthier person could respond better to coronavirus infection and sometimes even losing a few kilograms is enough to improve our metabolic status. ” And to overcome this pandemic in the healthiest way, don’t miss these 37 places that are more likely to get coronavirus.
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