Obesity multiplies risk of COVID mortality

The coronavirus presents an increased hazard not only to overweight adults but also to obese children. Nearly all young patients requiring movement therapy so far have been overweight. Obese people are less resistant to bacteria and viruses and are more prone to infection.

Infectious diseases last longer and there is a higher probability of complications,

Bedros said, citing a joint study by the World Obesity Federation and John Hopkins University.

Based on statistical data and scientific research, obesity is a clear risk with regard to the outcome of coronavirus infection. According to a study of 400,000 patients, obese people have a 113% higher probability of being hospitalised, are 74% more probable to end up in ICU and have a 48% higher mortality rate. At present, we know of three fundamental factors that contribute to the above:

decreased breathing capacity, changes to blood clotting, and a deterioration of the immune system.

“Based on the data available, it is completely clear that obesity is a significant risk factor leading to more severe symptoms and outcomes. Unfortunately, this correlation holds true not just for adults but for children as well. Both domestic and global data show that nearly all children requiring intensive care were overweight,” Bedros and Simonyi said.

Aside from the three fundamental factors above, obesity also has a detrimental effect on nearly all organs and physiological processes.

Obesity, especially when paired with type 2 diabetes, damages the immune system, which means the body will be less resistant to bacteria and viruses.

As a result, obese people are more prone to various infections, contracting diseases easier and finding it harder to overcome these, the two medical experts said. Infectious diseases last longer and lead to complications more often.

Unfortunately, we have seen that coronavirus infection led to serious condition with a higher probability for obese people,

Bedros and Simonyi said.

According to the World Obesity Federation, coronavirus-related mortality was ten times higher in countries where more than half of the population is obese or overweight. John Hopkins University, which has the largest coronavirus database in the world, found a direct correlation between obesity and coronavirus mortality. For example, coronavirus mortality was lowest in globally in Vietnam, the country with the second lowest frequency of obese people.

The coronavirus pandemic has only reinforced existing unfavourable trends, the experts said, adding that digital education and home office lead to weight increase.

The average Hungarian gained 3 to 5 kg of weight during the pandemic. The extra weight was inevitable as the lockdowns led to people moving less, while the home office was often based in the kitchen.

Cover photo: Shutterstock