Obviously, obesity increases your risk of a number of diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. However, preliminary research recently indicated that obesity may also make people more susceptible to Covid-19, but why does this happen?
This question was the subject of many studies as experts tried to answer it.
In a study of nearly 17,000 Covid-19 patients in British hospitals, those who were obese and had a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 were at a 33% greater risk of death than those who did not. They are obese. According to the BBC, a separate study of the National Health Records of the National Health Service in Britain found that the risk of death from
Covid-19 doubles people who are obese. If other health conditions associated with obesity, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, were taken into account, the risk would be higher, the researchers said.
A study of patients with serious diseases in the intensive care units revealed that 34.5% are overweight, 31.5% are obese, and 7% are obese (73% total), compared to 26% of those with a healthy BMI.
The body mass index is calculated according to the person's weight in kilograms divided by his length in meters.
Given the high rates of obesity, says the World Obesity Federation, a high proportion of people who contract Coronavirus have a BMI of more than 25. Initial studies from the United States, Italy, and China also indicate that it is an important risk factor.
Other factors that lead to more health deterioration when infected with «Covid-19»: age, being a man, as well as suffering from other health problems.
Why is obesity a risk?
The more weight you lose, the more fat you carry, the less fit and less your lungs. This means that you struggle to get oxygen in the blood and throughout the body, and this affects the heart and blood flow as well.
"Because overweight people have a demand for more oxygen, this means that their system is already under more pressure," says Professor Navid Satar of the University of Glasgow.
"Ultimately, the obese body suffers from a lack of oxygen in the main organs," said Dr. Diane Sylla, of the University of Reading.
This is one of the reasons why people who are overweight and obese are more likely to need help breathing and support their kidney function in intensive care units.
Scientists have discovered that an enzyme called ACE2, found in cells, is the main path through which a virus enters the body.
It is believed that higher levels of this enzyme molecules are found in the fat tissue of obese people, under the skin and around their organs.
This may be one of the reasons why they are more susceptible to infection, as well as the risk of deteriorating health status when contracting the disease.
The immune system is also affected by obesity
The body's ability to fight the virus, known as the immune response, is not good in obese people. This is due to inflammation caused by immune cells, which are called dendritic cells, which invade the fat tissue that interferes with how our immune cells respond to infection.
Scientists say: "This can lead to the so-called (cytokine storm), which is a potentially excessive reaction to the immune system that threatens life, as it causes severe inflammation and damage."
The more fat you carry, the less fit you are, and the smaller your lung capacity, which means that you struggle to get oxygen.