Is obesity a risk factor for Covid-19? – Sun

According to the NHS, more than 1.5 million British are classified as at high risk from coronavirus due to age and underlying illness.

our Obese or significantly overweight Being classified as a group of vulnerable people, how much risk does obesity pose? Here is everything we know.

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If I’m obese, is there a risk of getting the coronavirus?

Obesity has been found to be one of the greatest risk factors for hospitalization for coronavirus.

Most adults with a body mass index (BMI) above 30 are considered obese. According to NHS However, waist size is usually a good measure to measure for excess fat.

Being overweight or obese weakens the body’s immune system, making it easier for people to get caught. Coronavirus Makes it harder for the body to fight insects.

Analysis of 15,100 hospitalized coronavirus patients from 177 British hospitals has shown that excess fat around the body participates in the “cytokine storm” caused by covid-19.

The NHS has previously said that people with a BMI of 40 or higher are at increased risk of developing complications when infected with the virus.

Over 60% of patients undergoing intensive care with the virus A recent NHS survey found that it was classified as obese or morbid obesity.

Overweight people with a BMI of 25-40 accounted for 64% of the first 194 coronavirus patients in the ICU at the time, and 7% were classified as obese with a BMI of 40 or higher.

BMI is a measure of whether you have a healthy weight for your height. Calculate on the NHS website.

Past studies have shown that people who are overweight or obese are at increased risk of death from serious complications or infections such as the flu.

Excessive weight on the diaphragm of an obese person puts pressure on the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and starving for oxygen.

When an artery becomes blocked, the blood-carrying immune cells circulate and move, making it more difficult to fight infections around the body.

According to the World Obesity Federation, people with coronavirus obesity who need to go to an ICU are also more difficult to manage for medical staff because of their size.

It is difficult for staff to install ventilators, perform scans, and move obese patients.

“In general, the medical system to manage obese patients is not well-developed, and the current crisis will further clarify their limitations,” the website said.

Experts believe that obesity epidemics in the United States will push mortality rates to levels similar to the 1918 Spanish flu.

The CDC reports that 42.4% of US adults and 18.5% of children fall into that category.

Is obesity considered a fundamental health condition?

NHS and WHO Health conditions that can increase risk Coronavirus complications

As the number of patients with coronavirus increases, this is backed by further research.

However, most overweight or obese people are not considered “very vulnerable” to coronavirus unless they are pregnant or not pregnant Another high-risk condition This includes people such as:

• Received an organ transplant and is currently on an immunosuppressive drug
• Cancer and aggressive chemotherapy or radiation
• Cancer of blood or bone marrow such as leukemia at any stage of treatment
• Severe chest conditions such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma-requires hospitalization or administration of steroid tablets
• Serious diseases of the body system such as kidney disease (dialysis)
• Highly vulnerable to infection or taking medication
• Serious heart disease

If I am obese, do I need to be self-isolated?

No, if you do not have coronavirus symptoms, or About 1 million British asked to shield for 12 weeks, Need not be self-separated.

If you experience symptoms of coronavirus, follow the same advice to others and stay at home for 7 days.

If I am obese, can I get a shield letter?

Shielding is not required unless you have another underlying health condition on the “Very Vulnerable” list above. Receive a letter from NHS.

Instead, like all British, you should follow the government’s home stay and social distance advice.