People suffering from obesity and the underlying health conditions that go along with it such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and heart disease, are being hit especially hard by the coronavirus, says Dr. David Buchin, obesity specialist and director of Bariatric Surgery at Huntington Hospital.
According to a study by Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report about 90% of people in the hospital with COVID-19 had at least one underlying health condition. Half (50%) had high blood pressure, 48% were obese, 35% had chronic lung disease and 28% had diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“With the rate of obesity in the United State now exceeding 35% in nine states, these obesity-related conditions are very serious risk factors,” said Dr. Buchin. “Those who are overweight really need to be careful.”
Dr. Buchin explained that patients with obesity and diabetes have compromised immune systems, which creates a “double whammy.”
All the usual advice to fight obesity still goes, says Dr. Buchin: lose weight, lower your blood pressure, control your blood sugar and eat healthy.
“It’s even more critical now to follow this advice as the risk of a severe COVID infection looms,” he said.
David Buchin, MD, FACS, FASMBS, is the Director of Bariatric Surgery at Northwell Health-Huntington Hospital and is the owner of Long Island Obesity Surgery, a surgical practice specializing in bariatric surgery and lifestyle adjustment for weight loss. Dr. Buchin has helped thousands of patients change their lives and lose thousands of pounds.
