When does the weight cause hospitalization?

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People are more likely to be admitted to hospital for flu or other respiratory infections if they are underweight or overweight, according to a recent study.

The study was conducted by John Beagle, a medical doctor working at Lidos Biomedical Engineering Research, with researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases working in hospitals in Mexico. And published in the journal "Influenza and other respiratory viruses.

The study reviewed data from six hospitals in Mexico, involving 4,778 people with symptoms of influenza-like illness.

These included patients who had previously received treatment at the hospital, while others were patients from outpatient clinics.

The researchers found the risk of hospitalization was lower for those who had a body mass index within the normal weight range, while higher for those whose body mass index had the lowest and highest ranges, according to Medical News Today.

Children, all under the age of 18, accounted for 32% of the people surveyed. But scientists have found no clear link between BMI and the risk of severe influenza-like illness in this group.

The weight of the person is assessed by the mass index, which is the person's weight in kilograms divided by the square length in meters. Because it is easy to measure, researchers often use it to detect weight-related health risks among populations or in very large groups.

The following weight is evaluated according to the mass index:

• Weight loss: BMI is less than 18.5.
• Weight: Normal Body mass index ranges from 18.5 to 24.9.
• Weight gain: BMI ranges from 25 to 29.9.
• Obesity: BMI is 30 and above.

The authors of the study found that people who smoke daily as well as people with low activity, belong to the group who are underweight and overweight group.

This study recommends that health care providers examine people who are underweight to monitor their health risks just as they do with people who are obese.

The researchers said their research was the first published guide to reveal that they found a link between a low body mass index and the risk of flu-like illness. They also reported that underweight appeared to be a constant risk factor for all adult participants with an influenza-like illness.