Obesity itself comes with its own host of complications as a disease, but being obese may triple the risk of hospitalization due to a COVID infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, successful weight-loss surgery can significantly reduce this risk. Here’s why.
Physiological and social factors
Those that battle obesity will have an impaired immune function — a consequence of being malnourished and making unhealthy lifestyle choices. The ripple effects of obesity include things like chronic inflammation and blood that’s prone to clotting, all of which can worsen the impact of being infected by COVID-19. Since the pandemic hit our respective shores and changed life as we know it, dozens of studies have reported that many of the sickest COVID-19 patients have been people with obesity. To put this into sharp but grim focus, an international team of researchers collected data from scores of peer-reviewed papers capturing almost 400, 000 patients and found that people with obesity who contracted the virus were 113% more likely than those of a healthy weight to end up in hospital. 74% are more likely to be admitted to ICU and 48% more likely to die. In a country like the United States where 40% of adults are obese, the devastating impact of COVID-19 now has a more concrete explanation.
Furthermore, people with obesity are more likely to have other related diseases that are in and of themselves risk factors for severe cases of COVID-19. These include cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, and diabetes. All of these make an individual more susceptible to extreme cases of the virus.
Additionally, there is a hard-to-kill stigma surrounding obesity, so those with the disease may avoid medical care, meaning they do not get the treatment they need in order to survive.
Weight-loss surgery to curb the side effects of the virus
Our very own Dr. Michael Snyder was featured in a recent news article and mentioned that a new study by the Cleveland Clinic demonstrated clearly the impact of weight loss surgery and significant weight loss. The study revealed that an individual is 46% less likely to need hospitalization, 63% less likely to need oxygen, and 60% less likely to have a severe illness. He also stated aptly that “of all the things we can do to be safe with COVID, losing weight if you have major weight issues, is a critical thing.”
There is already existing evidence that explains the link between obesity and other serious diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Weight-loss surgery will not only aid in the remission of these diseases but also curb the risk of severe COVID-19 side effects if you contract it.
If you’re concerned about your weight and the impact it’s having on your health, bariatric surgery may be the best route for you — not just in reducing your risk of extreme COVID-19 consequences but in offering you a healthier, happier life. Request an appointment with our team for more information today.