According to several publications, the majority of people that present complications because of the COVID -19 are obese.
Hospitals are seeing a direct relationship between the severity of getting Covid-19 and the BMI (Body mass index). A person who has obesity might not have diabetes, heart problems, or high-pressure, but the fact that it is obese means that its body is less prepared to fight coronavirus.
A patient with obesity has more risk of being placed on a mechanical ventilator and to present complications if it gets infected with COVID-19. Obesity produces chronic inflammation which negatively affects the immune system. The coronavirus causes a storm of cytokines that produce a severe inflammation reaction. The body which is already dealing with chronic inflammation cannot properly respond. People with obesity have lung problems at a cell level (without them having symptoms) which affects their breathing. It seems that more amount of fat tissue also has a negative impact, researchers are studying if the fat tissue can be a storage reservoir for the virus or it can help it multiply more and/or faster.
To this, it needs to be added that the abdominal fat produces a lot of pressure over the rib cage which prevents normal breathing (the lungs cannot expand normally). Breathing problems are aggravated by the coronavirus.
There are also physiological and mechanical problems. People with obesity have apnea sleep (i.e. lack of oxygen), heart problems and they are the most difficult ones to put on a mechanical ventilator or to put them on their side or upside down (move them). Intubating someone with obesity is harder because their neck is wider, it takes more time and calibrate the mechanical ventilator is harder. To move a patient with obesity requires 4 people, which are less available with the pandemic.
Obesity can be multifactorial, caused by oncological, genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors. In these cases, making changes in the lifestyle might not be enough, but it can be the beginning of a big change.
The first step is for the person to accept that it has obesity and to start making some routines changes, like eating healthier and make some exercise. Once confinement is over, it would be important to look for professional help. Being obese is not the same as being overweight, obesity is a chronic disease for which there is treatment such as medicines.
5 tips to avoid wining weight during the lockdown
1. Try to eat homemade meals, look for healthy recipes, low in saturated fats, salt, and sugar, and avoid take-out.
2. Be active, do a home workout, go for a walk, or even cleaning the house.
3. Do not eat because you are bored or to manage the stress. Before opening the fridge as yourself, I am really hungry, or I am just bored.
4. Avoid calorie-dense and low in nutrients food (ultra-processed food).
5. when you are hungry, drink water first, probably is thirst.
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