Obesity is a key factor in the severity of a COVID-19 diagnosis, according to a new study published Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC found that of the 148,494 adults in 238 hospitals diagnosed with COVID-19, almost 51% were obese and almost 28% were overweight.
Overweight is defined as having a body mass index of 25 or more, while obesity is defined as having a BMI of 30 or more.
Just over 42% of the US population was considered obese in 2018, according to the latest CDC data.
Overweight and / or obesity were risk factors for invasive mechanical ventilation, and obesity was a risk factor for hospitalization and death, especially among adults under the age of 65, the CDC said.
The CDC study found that the risk of hospitalizations, ICU hospitalizations, and deaths was lowest among people with a BMI under 25 years of age. As BMIs have risen, the risk of severe disease has “increased sharply,” especially among people aged 65 and over, the agency said.
The CDC recommended that as clinicians develop care plans for patients with COVID-19, they should consider the risk of severe outcomes in patients with higher BMI, especially those with severe obesity.
The agency said the findings highlight the higher “clinical and public health implications” of BMI, including the promotion of COVID-19 prevention strategies, such as the continued prioritization and masking of the vaccine, and policies to ensure community access to nutrition. and physical activities that promote and support a healthy BMI “.
The CDC said promoting a healthy BMI could be particularly important for disproportionately obese populations, especially black Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic adults, as well as low-income households also more likely to have poorer results from COVID-19 compared to other populations.