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 who were diagnosed with COVID-19, nearly 51 percent were obese and nearly 28 percent overweight.
Overweight is defined as a body mass index of 25 or more, while obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or more.
According to the most recent data from the CDC, in 2018, just over 42 percent of the U.S. population was considered obese.
Overweight and / or obesity were risk factors for invasive mechanical ventilation, and obesity was a risk factor for hospitalization and death, especially in adults under 65, the CDC said.
The CDC study found that the risk of hospital admissions, ICU admissions, and deaths was lowest in individuals with a BMI under 25. As BMIs increased, the risk of serious illness “increased dramatically,” especially in people aged 65. years and older, the agency said.
The CDC recommended that when developing care plans for COVID-19 patients, clinicians should consider the risk of serious outcomes in patients with higher BMIs, especially those with severe obesity.
The agency said the findings highlight the “ clinical and public health implications ” of higher BMIs, including the promotion of COVID-19 prevention strategies such as continued prioritization and masking of vaccines, and policies to promote community access to nutrition and physical activities. and support a healthy BMI. “
CDC said promoting a healthy BMI may be especially important for populations disproportionately affected by obesity, especially Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic black adults, as well as those in low-income households, who are also more likely on worse results of COVID-19 compared to other populations.