This New York Times (Mar 8) looks into what causes people to have more dire health impacts:
Now, a large new study, of nearly 150,000 adults at more than 200 hospitals across the United States, paints a more detailed picture of the connection between weight and Covid-19 outcomes.
. . . And among those who are obese, the risk increases as a patient’s body mass index, or B.M.I., a ratio of weight to height, increases. Patients with a B.M.I. of 45 or higher, which corresponds to severe obesity, were 33 percent more likely to be hospitalized and 61 percent more likely to die than those who were at a healthy weight, the researchers found.
. . . The connection between obesity and poor outcomes was strongest among patients under 65, but it held even for older adults. Previous, smaller studies have not found strong links between obesity and severity of Covid-19 in older adults.
The article also mentions that those who are underweight are also more likely to end up at the hospital, but are less likely to die or need intensive care. The speculation is that those who are underweight may have other health issues that caused them to also get admitted to the hospital.
Here's the link to the study. An interesting detail from the study is that 50.8% of adult COVID-19 patients were obese versus 42.4% nationally.
Now, a large new study, of nearly 150,000 adults at more than 200 hospitals across the United States, paints a more detailed picture of the connection between weight and Covid-19 outcomes.
. . . And among those who are obese, the risk increases as a patient’s body mass index, or B.M.I., a ratio of weight to height, increases. Patients with a B.M.I. of 45 or higher, which corresponds to severe obesity, were 33 percent more likely to be hospitalized and 61 percent more likely to die than those who were at a healthy weight, the researchers found.
. . . The connection between obesity and poor outcomes was strongest among patients under 65, but it held even for older adults. Previous, smaller studies have not found strong links between obesity and severity of Covid-19 in older adults.
The article also mentions that those who are underweight are also more likely to end up at the hospital, but are less likely to die or need intensive care. The speculation is that those who are underweight may have other health issues that caused them to also get admitted to the hospital.
Here's the link to the study. An interesting detail from the study is that 50.8% of adult COVID-19 patients were obese versus 42.4% nationally.
Though I have never been anywhere close to obese, as soon as this pandemic hit, I did make sure that I watched my weight. Of course, this decision was made way before this study came out, but I figured I better make sure I was as healthy as possible. I've lost about 8 pounds since the pandemic. Of course, half of those pounds were no doubt due to the fact that there was no longer any tempting free chocolate candy that I could help myself to at the office.
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