Obesity & COVID – 1-Year Update
Obesity is a prevalent issue in the U.S. that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. By some estimates upwards of 40% of all American adults are obese. A full 2/3’s of adults are overweight. The medical complications that come with obesity are numerous, increasing in severity the higher a person’s weight is. The health impact of obesity has once again come to the forefront of concern and is has been shown to be a major risk factor for poor outcomes in patients who contract the Covid-19 virus.
Some of the facts, available at www.cdc.gov, that impact obesity and Covid-19 are:
- increasing the seriousness of respiratory compromise from Covid-19.
- tripling the risk of hospitalization if you are infected by Covid-19
- increasing your risk of dying from Covid-19
Obesity compounds the effects of Covid-19. This has to do with the stress on your heart and lungs that obesity exerts, effects on your immune system, and the co-morbid conditions that come with obesity such as diabetes mellitus (type-2), hypertension (high blood pressure), and sleep apnea.
Also concerning is that obesity is known to affect minority racial populations such as African Americans and Hispanics, putting them at particular high risk of problems related to Covid-19.
The obesity epidemic is multi-factorial, and often requires a multi-pronged approach to treat. This may include counseling, mental health, dietary consultation, medical consultation, and in severe cases, weight loss surgery. More than ever with the current global pandemic, the importance of managing obesity to improve not just quality of life, but to reduce the risk of current or future risk of severe illness or death has become paramount.
To learn more about non-surgical and surgical options to manage your weight, we encourage you to contact our office for a consultation.
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