CDC Confirms Obesity A Major Risk Factor During COVID-19

The latest study conducted by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that the majority of people who have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 were obese or overweight. 

The research found that this will be clearly 72% of those who ended up at hospital beds since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The researchers said that 27.8% of these were overweight and at the same time the rest of 50.2% were obese. 

CDC’s study was held under the data of 71,491 who were turned positive with COVID-19 and were shifted to 2387 hospitals across the country during March and December 2020.

The agency tweeted that with elevated body mass index, the risk of severe illness with COVID-19 also increases. People younger than 65 are more at risk according to the findings of CDC MMWR.

The BMIs of the admitted patients were determined in the study to determine their weight categories. Both the CDC and the National Institutes of Health said that having a 

BMI between 25 and 30 defines overweight, but a BMI greater than 30 is considered to be obese. 

The research concluded that if a person’s BMI shows he is obese or overweight the risk of hospitalization and intensive care treatment and also death is sharply increased in him.

This is particularly among adults who are of age 65 and more. At the same time, if a person has a normal or lower BMI rate, he is less likely to be at risk.

The clinical and public health impact of obesity during the days of the pandemic is highlighted in CDC findings.

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The CDC also recommended community access to nutrition physical activity to reduce this risk among people who suffer from obesity or are overweight, besides other instructed safety measures like masking and social distancing. 

The researchers wrote that clinicians should consider the risk of severe outcomes in patients with higher BMIs as they are planning and developing various care facilities for patients of COVID-19. Specifically for those who are under critical conditions related to obesity.

The analysis of the study also pointed out that among racial minorities, especially blacks, Hispanics, and those who belong to low-income households, the higher obesity rates are more prevalent.

The Research indicated that these groups of people are at a higher risk to experience severe COVID-19 infections. 

The data from CDC showed that in 2018, 42% among the whole population of the U.S were considered obese.

There is also a gradual growth in the rates of obesity in people in the country during the last two decades. In 1999, the rate was reported as 30.5%.

As of the present, 29.1 million cases have been reported in the U.S after the initial appearance of the coronavirus in the country with more than 538,000 deaths.

According to the reports that came on Monday, 98,513 new cases have emerged and the seven-day average came to 64,722.

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