Are Weight and Risk of COVID-19 Related?

Hey mama,

 

How are you doing this week? 

Everyone's lives continue to be affected by COVID-19. We received news this week that we won't be returning to school this Spring. We're all feeling sad about that, but know it's the right thing to do for everyone's health.  

 

Our health definitely feels more precious these days. We've had two friends our age in the hospital for ten days, one on a ventilator. Luckily, both have returned home to continue their recovery. When we hear things like this and other scary news, we tend to feel nervous. To calm our nerves, we naturally want to do what we can to control our ow health. Unfortunately, there's a lot of misinformation circulating about COVID-19 and what you can do to stay healthy.  Two of the biggest myths right now are that weight loss will help decrease your chance of getting COVID-19 and that healthy people with higher weight have worse outcomes. The bottom line is there's no research to confirm this.

 

Here are the things we can confirm.  

1. The conclusions being made about weight and health outcomes are based on flawed research and very limited evidence.  The studies don't account for race, socio-economic status or quality of health (aka social determinants of health).

2. Weight stigma, not weight itself, usually accounts for poorer health outcomes.  

3. The reports also didn't take into account existing individual health conditions like cancer, respiratory illness or cardiovascular disease.  All of which likely increase the risk of COVID-19. 

4. All of the published data from China doesn't indicate that higher BMI (Body Mass Index) alone is a risk factor for COVID-19. 

5. Clinicians own biases about weight were also not taken into account. Patients who are considered "obese" often don't receive the same treatment as lower BMI patients. 

6. While African Americans are getting COVID-19 at higher rates because of poor access to medical care and higher rates of exposure, not because of size or biology. 

 

With so much news coverage about "obesity" and COVID-19, it only deepens the anti-fat bias that is so widespread throughout our culture. It unfairly assigns blame and shame to people in larger bodies which is unfortunate at a time when many are feeling increased stress and difficulties.  

 

I want to assure you that this is NOT the time to focus on weight loss as we know there's no "plan" out there that works over the long haul. In fact, weight loss strategies only tax the immune system and our body's overall health instead of providing any kind of protection.  

The best things you can do to protect your health are to get enough food, wash your hands, avoid touching your face, clean frequently used surfaces often, stay home, wear a mask and or gloves if you're out doing essential errands, practice social distancing and do whatever you can to decrease your stress levels.  

 

For a more detailed look at the studies that highlight the above information, please read Christy Harrison's op-ed article.   

 

Soldier on, warrior mamas! I hope you have a great week.