Infections in France for the coronavirus are skyrocketing. Specialists from the University of Lille are trying to understand if there is a correlation between obesity and mortality from Covid-19. Apparently we have to be careful of extra pounds because obesity is an ally of the coronavirus.
A first approach to the subject took place in Italy: doctors from Bologna carried out a study and published it in the European Journal of Endocrinology.
Obesity is a serious problem found in the West. There are many on our continent overweight people or obese. French doctors took advantage of the pandemic to check for any correlations between obesity and coronavirus.
Research
124 people with coronavirus were compared with 306 hospitalized patients but for other reasons. The French research coordinator immediately noticed that about half of coronavirus patients had obesity, another quarter a very obese conformation. Before going into the study, it is useful to understand how obesity is detected.
Body Mass Index
The Body Mass Index (BMI) or Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to evaluate the state of the body. This value is obtained with a simple mathematical formula. We divide the weight in kilograms with the square of the height in meters. There is a scale to consider: for a value less than 16.5 severe thinness, up to 18.49 underweight, up to 24.99 normal weight. From this value onwards up to 29.99 overweight, up to 34.99 light obesity, 39.99 medium obesity, over 40 severe obesity.
The details
The 124 coronavirus patients all have a Body Mass Index from overweight onwards. Only 1 in 10 had a BMI below 25. Patients not affected by coronavirus have a Body Mass Index of only 50% overweight up to a worse situation.
Obesity patients had to resort to ventilation. French doctors cannot understand why. Meanwhile, better be careful of the extra pounds because obesity is an ally of the coronavirus according to a first finding. The French team is carrying out another study of 1,200 people in intensive care.
