Covid-19 and obesity

Abstract

The Covid-19 virus has affected almost 35 million people resulting in the death of more than a million people. It started in 2019 in China and spread quickly worldwide. It has become the most extensive healthcare concern of the 21st century and has effectively caused trouble and loss to human life and challenges to health authorities as well. The Covid-19 virus can spread from one person to another, but older and obese people are at higher risk of severe disease and death. Research has shown that obese people are at higher risk of getting Covid and becoming severely ill because they have less capacity to fight off the diseases and infections than healthy weight people. One of the biggest reasons behind this is that the immune system weakens with increasing weight, which makes the obese person more susceptible to the disease. Consequently, the immunologic changes can be both in younger obese and older people. In addition, research has also shown that obese people store a lot of substances within their fat cells. They release more substances than they produce. This substance circulate into the blood and bind with the immune cells, which release the inflammatory factors. According to new research, obese people have to face a tough time fighting the Coronavirus even if they have a milder form of the virus. The research of more than 500 corona patients, teens and adults who were obese had severe symptoms as compared to those who were healthy weight. Certain lifestyle changes keep the body healthy and strengthen the immune system, especially during this pandemic, such as: balanced and healthy food, exercising and proper sleep. Because of the absence or lack of these practices can increase obesity and weight. On the other hand, weight loss can also improve blood pressure cholesterol levels and improve heart health. It can also reduce the severe Covid illness.