Are people who are obese at higher risk of coronavirus? Here’s what experts say

As coronavirus spreads across the United States, many are wondering if obesity puts them at high risk of becoming severely ill due to the virus.

Experts say yes.

People of any age with severe obesity — a body mass index of 40 or more — are considered to be at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

They are urged — along with people who have chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma and compromised immune systems — to contact their health care providers if they develop a fever or cough, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Obesity can increase inflammation and weaken a person’s immune system, making it more difficult to combat infections, Metro reported.

Extra weight can also put pressure on the lungs and make it more difficult to breathe, making complications from COVID-19 — a respiratory illness — more likely, according to the outlet.

The United Kingdom has seen obesity play a role in the severity of coronavirus-related illness.

A report from the Intensive Care National Audit and Resource Center in London found that 64 percent of coronavirus patients in intensive care units in the United Kingdom were overweight or obese, the International Business Times reported.

Researchers in Mexico fear the country’s obesity rates could make the pandemic especially dangerous, according to The Associated Press.

The country has one of the world’s highest obesity rates — 72.5% of adults are obese or overweight, the outlet reported.

“The majority of the deaths that will occur in Mexico during the current epidemic will be associated with the serious problem of obesity,” Ávila told The Associated Press.

This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 8:23 AM with the headline "Are people who are obese at higher risk of coronavirus? Here’s what experts say."