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High Obesity Levels In The US Linked To a Higher Covid-19 Death Rate

05/06/2020 08:58 - United States, California - (PR Distribution™)

Summary: Medical professionals are of the opinion that there could be a correlation between Covid-19 deaths in the US and the high obesity levels in the country.
 

Medical professionals are of the opinion that there could be a correlation between Covid-19 deaths in the US and the high obesity levels in the country. It may not be a mere coincidence that the US is currently having the world’s highest number of coronavirus deaths and the highest obesity levels as well.

Jet Medical Tourism®, which provides safe and affordable gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico to American women and men suffering from obesity, highlighted the importance of choosing bariatric surgery to restore health and fitness.

In particular, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought this fact into spotlight that people suffering from obesity are more vulnerable to infections and illness. Jet Medical Tourism® is helping obesity patients in the US and Canada to achieve their weight loss goals through high quality gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico at a fraction of the cost they would pay in their home country.

CDC Says Obesity is a Major Risk Factor for Covid-19 Complications

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has pointed out that people suffering from severe obesity (individuals with a BMI of 40 or above) are among those with the highest risk of complications related to coronavirus infection.

The hospital epidemiologist at NYU’s Langone Health, Dr. Jennifer Lighter said that she believes obesity is the cause behind higher mortality rates and morbidity related to Covid-19 in the US compared to other parts of the world.
She said that people below the age of 60, who are morbidly obese, have a two to three times higher risk of being hospitalized or admitted to the ICU, and have a three times higher fatality risk related to coronavirus infection, compared to non-obese individuals.

Dr. Lighter led a research study published recently in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, which highlighted that people below the age of 60, who have a BMI of 35 or above have at least a two times higher likelihood of being admitted to the ICU for Covid-19 infection than patients with normal BMI.

How does Obesity Worsen the Effects of Covid-19 Infection?

According to Dr. Lighter, people who suffer from obesity have a reduced pulmonary reserve. This means, their rates of asthma, OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) and restrictive lung disease are higher. Therefore, when a respiratory virus such as Covid-19 attacks their immune system, they are at a higher risk of developing severe pulmonary manifestations.

People with obesity are on the spectrum of progressing to conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and hyper-lipidemia. In addition, the ACE2 receptors on their fat cells (adipose cells) allow for a higher replication of the virus in their body, which increase inflammation.

Researchers have also determined that young people who are being hospitalized in the US with coronavirus infection have a higher prevalence of obesity. The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published on 17th April showed that among 180 Covid-19 patients hospitalized during the month of March, the most common underlying medical condition was obesity.

More than 50 percent of these hospitalized patients were found to be suffering from obesity. According to Dr. Lighter, even people under 60 with a BMI of 30 to 34 have two times higher risk of hospitalization for coronavirus infection compared to those with a BMI less than 30.

Jet Medical Tourism® Combats Obesity through Affordable Mexico Bariatric Surgery

Jet Medical Tourism®, which has been working for many years in the fight against obesity through affordable weight loss surgery in Mexico, is educating patients about the new research on risks of obesity.

According to the experienced Mexico bariatric surgeons on board with Jet Medical Tourism®, gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico is a highly effective treatment for obesity. Most patients can expect to lose about 70 to 80 percent of their excess body weight within the first year itself after their sleeve gastrectomy in Mexico.

American and Canadian patients who are seeking safe and cost-effective solutions to obesity and related health conditions can have a free virtual consultation with the top qualified gastric sleeve surgeons in Mexico who are on board with Jet Medical Tourism®.    

More Research Studies Highlight the Link between Obesity and Covid-19 Risks

According to the Feintstein Institutes of Medical Research, the latest research studies demonstrate a strong link between coronavirus hospitalizations and obesity.

A detailed analysis of 5,700 Covid-19 patients admitted from March 1st to April 4th, 2020 at Northwell, which is New York’s leading health system, showed that 41 percent of the hospitalized patients were considered obese.

The National Library of Medicine published its preliminary data in early April, which also showed that the coronavirus pandemic is rapidly spreading in North America and Europe, which are the two global regions where the prevalence of obesity is very high.

The data also revealed that the proportion of Covid-19 patients who needed IMV treatment (Intermitted Mandatory Ventilation) also increased with Body Mass Index (BMI).

The CDC published figures in February, which showed that the national obesity levels in the US in 2017-2018 had reached an alarming 42.4 percent – the highest ever recorded in the country.

The government data for Mississippi, for instance, showed that over 40 percent of the coronavirus patients who died from this illness were obese, according to a USA Today report.

Obese Patients at High Risk of Covid-19 and Other Diseases

According to Dr. David Nazarian, a board certified physician in Beverly Hills and founder of My Concierge MD, obesity increases the patient’s risk for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, blood vessel disease, and eventually kidney disease.

Scientists know for sure that people with conditions such as diabetes are more prone to contracting infections, and their high blood sugar levels can make them immuno-compromised. In a nutshell, an obesity patient can check off five risk factors listed by the CDC for more severe coronavirus infections, says Dr. Nazarian.

The World Obesity Federation, an organization based in the UK, has also pointed out that a high percentage of world population that contracts the Covid-19 infection will have a BMI in excess of 25.

Moreover, patients with obesity who need intensive care following Covid-19 infection face more challenges because intubating patients with obesity is more difficult. The federation also stated that the health systems in general are not equipped to manage patients with obesity in this scenario.

About Jet Medical Tourism®

Jet Medical Tourism® is a seasoned and highly respected medical tourism provider for patients in the US and Canada who are suffering from obesity and excessive overweight conditions. Jet Medical Tourism® works with prominent weight loss surgery hospitals and experienced bariatric surgeons in Mexico creating successful gastric sleeve before and after stories along with gastric sleeve before and after pictures.  

Attribution: News report published by Fox News
Date of Publication: 28 April, 2020
Link: https://www.foxnews.com/health/is-americas-high-obesity-levels-leading-to-more-coronavirus-deaths

Media Contacts:


Full Name
Kent Roberts
Company
Jet Medical Tourism®
Phone Number
9495101349
Email
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