August 28, 2020

A new study from researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill show that obesity increases the risk of contracting the coronavirus, of landing in the hospital and intensive care unit, and the risk of death from COVID-19.

According to the lead researcher of the study, Prof Barry Popkin, of the department of nutrition at the UNC’s Gillings Global School of Public Health, the findings from the study are “scary” and show that the risks for people with obesity are greater than previously thought.

The global study was a collaborative effort between the University of North Carolina (UNC), Saudi Health Council and World Bank.

The team, from the UNC looked at data from 75 studies from around the world for their research, including nearly 400,000 coronavirus patients.

The study, published two days ago in the journal, Obesity Reviews, was a meta-analysis, bringing together data from many studies carried out around the world, including China, France, Italy, the UK and the US.

The results show that, in comparison with their non-obese counterparts, obese people had:

- 46% greater risk of catching coronavirus

- 113% increased risk of hospitalization

- 74% chances of ending up in the intensive care unit

- 48% greater risk of dying from complications of COVID-19


The researchers also cautioned that a vaccine against coronavirus could be less effective in obese people.

This is based on the fact that flu vaccines don’t work as well in those with a body mass index (BMI) of over 30.

Prof Barry Popkin said “we know a COVID-19 vaccine will have a positive effect on obese people, but we suspect from all our knowledge from tests on the Sars vaccine and the flu vaccine it will have a diminished benefit compared to the others.”

In the study, obesity was defined as a BMI over 30.

Obesity was already a known risk factor for more severe cases of COVID-19 because of the underlying health conditions associated with the condition, including heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Melinda Beck, a professor at UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, who also participated in the study, said in a statement “individuals with obesity are also more likely to experience physical ailments that make fighting this disease harder, such as sleep apnea, which increases pulmonary hypertension, or a body mass index that increases difficulties in a hospital setting with intubation.”


https://www.yourhealthng.com.ng/2020/08/28/study-shows-obesity-increases-risk-of-complications-from-covid-19-weakens-vaccine-efficacy/

Is it cool to say that fat is also a form of obesity

Ugaboy:
Is it cool to say that fat is also a form of obesity

Excess fat is what causes obesity/overweight