OBESITY AND COVID-19: DOES AGE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
When the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2021, did you think about what goals you want to conquer this year? Have you taken your first steps toward those goals? Amid adversity inflicted by COVID-19, NYBG encourages you to remember how strong you are, but keep in mind that you are not embarking on this journey alone. We are here to support you in your pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. Dismiss the commercial diets and opt for weight-loss surgery—the only proven option for long-term weight-loss success.
IMAGINED INVINCIBILITY
As our previous blogs have discussed, obesity puts people at a greater COVID-19 risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that obesity affects more than 42% of adults and over 18% of children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 19.
Understanding the broader relationship between obesity and COVID-19, a recent study conducted by the American Heart Association sought to dive deeper into the effect of excess body mass index (BMI) on COVID-19 outcomes, particularly in younger adults. The lead author of the study, Nicholas Hendren, shared the reasoning behind performing this study as reported by American Heart Association News: “Younger people often think that they’re invincible from COVID, but we wanted to find out if that was really true.”
The organization collected data from hospitalized patients at 88 U.S. hospitals. All were enrolled in the American Heart Association’s COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry. The study found that obese individuals were more likely to be hospitalized with coronavirus and had an increased risk for ventilation needs or in-hospital death compared to those with lower BMI. For patients with severe obesity (BMI greater than 40), the mortality association was strongest in younger adults— Patients age 50 and younger with severe obesity had a 36% higher risk of death compared to non-obese individuals.
Researchers did not expect the results to be so striking for young adults. Nick Hendren emphasized, “If you’re in your 20s or 30s or 40s, you’re not bulletproof if you’re severely obese.”
In addition to obesity, studies have shown that health issues such as diabetes and hyperglycemia often increase the severity of the COVID-19 illness as well. A study published in Diabetes Care indicated that patients with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk for hospitalization. Of the 6,400+ individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, those in the type 2 diabetes group had a hospitalization rate nearly six times as high as those without diabetes (44.3% vs. 7.1%).
We share this research not to scare you, but to keep you informed. More importantly, to tell you that there is a way to take the future by the horns and prioritize your health. In fact, recent research shows that bariatric surgery may reduce COVID-19 severity, so why wait?
YOU CONTROL YOUR FUTURE
When it’s time to start a successful weight-loss journey, it’s time to call NYBG! We’re the best practice around and our numbers prove it:
- 20 skilled surgeons who are leaders in bariatrics, 1 Plastic Surgeon, and 13 PA’s
- 18,000 successful procedures performed with more every day
- The #1 gastric balloon practice by volume – most balloons placed in the United States
- Access to online seminars, support groups, cooking demos, and Q&A sessions
- 100s of videos for patients explaining procedures, answering common questions, and showcasing previous patients
- Multiple offices located in three states; NY, NJ, CT
- Since 2000, we boast over 20 years of success!
Our commitment to patient success and excellence has earned us accreditation from the Metabolic Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). This prestigious achievement recognizes only the top bariatric practices. Stop waiting; start achieving better health today. Together, we’ve got this!
New York Bariatric Group is implementing and enforcing strict guidelines put out by the Center for Disease Control and the Department of Health in order to keep our staff and patients safe.
We are offering in-person and virtual consultations to ensure that everyone is able to get the information and care they deserve without feeling pressure to leave their home.
Sources:
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.051936
