mohak bariatrics | COVID-19 Archives

How Does Obesity Affect Covid-19 Vaccine Immunity?

July 13, 2021

The covid-19 pandemic has threatened the world, concerning the global populace about its recovery and long-term impact on immunity. While the medical world is constantly fighting the virus that has been hovering over us for more than a year now, it is undeniable that the other health concerns can worsen the effect of Covid-19 and reduce vaccine efficiency. One such health concern is the obesity epidemic. It has been a global crisis and combined with the ongoing pandemic, it can prove fatal and deadly.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention lists obesity as a significant risk factor for severe Covid Illness, hospitalization and death. An August 2020 study in the Obesity Reviews found that:

People who are obese had around 46% more risk of Covid Infection
Are 113% more likely to get hospitalized with the infection
There is a 74% more chance that Covid Illness will lead to death.

While many of us are sure of these adverse impacts of obesity, most of us wonder about its effect on vaccine efficiency. Let’s understand this better by looking at things more closely.

Obesity, Immunity and Vaccination:

Medical professionals say that the fat that sits around the abdomen and the organs lowers the body’s resistance towards fighting infections and generating antibodies by vaccines. Some studies say that fats hinder nutrients that the immune system needs to carry out its task.

Some medical professional explains that since obesity causes chronic low-grade inflammation in the body. This generates higher immune-regulating proteins in obese people, called cytokines. These can damage the essential and healthy tissues in some cases of severe Covid-19 cases. The infection can also linger five days longer in people who are obese, implying that these people face a more challenging time clearing the infection.

Obese people also have fewer microbes in the nose, guts and lungs with altered metabolic functions. These can further change the immune responses to vaccines. Until now, vaccines made for Influenza, Hepatitis B, and Rabies have shown reduced reactions in obese individuals compared to those who are lean. While some still believe that it is just a hypothesis, obesity does not significantly affect vaccine response in obese individuals.

Nonetheless, boosting your chance of having an effective immune response and avoiding unneeded complications is to start working on obesity. Procedures such as bariatric surgery with specific lifestyle changes have proven to be the most effective against obesity. To understand more about taking that first step, contact us on 6232012342.

Why Obesity is the deadliest risk factor for young adults with COVID-19?

September 18, 2020

Young obese adults with underlying medical conditions such as hypertension, stroke, diabetes are currently at a higher risk of losing their lives or being placed on a ventilator due to coronavirus. This deadly virus is badly affecting the lives of morbidly obese young adults, according to data from 3000 hospitalised COVID-19 patients aged between 18 and 34.

Morbid obese people, with a BMI of 40 and above, were almost accounting to 41% of young obese people who were on ventilation or died. This all combined with high blood pressure, which accounted for nearly 31% of ventilated and dead patients; on the other hand, diabetes represented 27% of the deceased and intubated patients.

During this pandemic, dozens of studies have been conducted and reported that most of the COVID-19 cases were people suffering from obesity. Generally, overweight and obese people develop other diseases like lung, heart and diabetes that are independent risk factors for severe COVID-19. Young obese people are also prone to metabolic disorders in which fat, blood sugar levels go severely high.

Obesity and COVID-19 is a deadly combination
It’s nothing wrong to say, when obesity meets coronavirus, it can cause death! Obesity causes obstructed breathing, making it more difficult for a patient to clear pneumonia and other respiratory problems that are linked with COVID-19. The fat present in your body is biologically active and is a source of pro-inflammatory chemicals, which promote a state of chronic inflammation in your body even before coronavirus sets in.

After looking at the deaths caused by the combination of coronavirus and obesity in young adults, this pandemic has made one thing clear— Obesity is more of a SOCIETAL responsibility than a PERSONAL one. There is an alarming need to create food systems and environments that aid in healthy eating and make the healthiest food options readily available, accessible and affordable.

For any consultation, please call on- 6232012342

Elective Surgery Safety Parameters During COVID-19 Pandemic

May 21, 2020

After the lockdown was imposed in all over the world, government has declared to stop the elective surgeries till the time COVID-19 goes away. Elective surgeries are those surgeries that doesn’t involve a medical emergency, the procedures that are scheduled in advance and need not to be performed in a hurry. Government agencies suggested a temporary halt in elective surgeries amidst the COVID-19 emergency situation, which Dr. Mohit Bhandari feels is right. According to him, there are two good reasons behind this suggestion given by government agencies-

The first and the most important reason is to save the facilities of hospitals for COVID-19 patients who are in an emergency. Facilities like ICU, OPD area, Laboratories, X-ray, CT Scan, Sonography are needed to test the patients and to treat them in the best possible way.
The second reason being the patients who are coming for elective surgery from around the world can be coronavirus carriers.

According to Dr. Mohit Bhandari, in order to restart the hospitals for the treatment of elective surgery patients, there are two significant things to be taken care of-

We need to make sure that none of the areas, wards, staff or facilities is infected by the coronavirus. The hospital should be in green belt.
The patients who come for the elective surgery, and the attendees along with them, should be examined properly for the corona virus before beginning any type of treatment. If the hospital has got that infrastructure, to test every patient and the attendees, then only it can start the elective surgeries. Having said that, the hospital have to make sure one more thing that the treatment of coronavirus patients is not delayed.

For consultation and queries, contact on- 6232012342

What is the role of Nutrition in combating COVID-19 infection?

May 21, 2020

The patients who have undergone Bariatric Surgery in the past three, six or twelve months have a most common query that what diet should be taken to combat COVID-19 infection. According to Dr. Mohit Bhandari, the guidelines and diet plan that is given to you by your surgeon, should be strictly followed after the Bariatric Surgery. Apart from that, there are some important things that need to be taken care of-

Protein intake should be high. Proteins are structural core to fight any kind of infection. You should take nearly 1.5 grams of protein per kg of body weight. For example, 50 kg of body weight would require 75 grams of protein. Along with proteins, you need to take multivitamins that are suggested to you by your doctor.

Consumption of zinc is important not only for bariatric surgery patients, but also for normal people. Zinc forms a protective layer between the virus and mucus membrane of your body. It also has anti viral properties that has been stated in many research papers.

Following the diet plan given to you by your doctor, and taking basic safety measures can help you in combating the novel coronavirus infection. Stick to a healthy lifestyle and intake as many nutritions as you can. For consultation and queries, call on- 6232012342

How are Obesity and COVID-19 infection linked to?

May 14, 2020

In the time when COVID-19 is spreading like a wildfire, people who are morbidly obese have greater chances of catching the infection. But what can be the reason behind this? Dr. Mohit Bhandari explains the reasons why obesity and corona virus are linked together-

In our body, there are fat cells called “Adipocytes”. There are multiple receptors present on these fat cells. One receptor called Angiotensin, is found the most in fatty cells. It is found that affinity of the virus present in COVID-19 is more towards angiotensin receptors, which is why we can see corona virus affecting obese people more.

Second reason is improper working of lungs in obese people. Breathing problem can be seen very commonly in obese patients due to which there are greater chances of developing Pneumonia.

There are two types of immunity. Innate immunity and Acquired immunity. In obese people, Innate and Acquired immunity both are less due to deposition of fat. And because of low immunity, fighting with any type of virus becomes seriously low in obese people.

If you are obese, over weight or morbidly obese, then take care of yourself the most because even in WHO, they have mentioned obese people to take great care of themselves as they have the highest chances of getting affected by it. For more consultation and suggestions, please call on- 6232012342

Coronavirus Disease an Outbreak for People having Obesity

April 22, 2020

Obese people having BMI over 25 are most important predictors of severe coronavirus illness, according to WHO report. When the whole world is getting infected by the novel coronavirus, there is one segment of people who have a greater chance of getting affected by it. People who are obese, and have a BMI of above 25, are more likely to catch this infection. According to a WHO report, coronavirus can cause severe symptoms and complications in obese people which might result in higher mortality. It is found that obesity is the most significant risk factor, after older age, for being hospitalized with corona virus infection.

Why obese people are at a higher risk for COVID-19?

It has been evident that Obesity contributes to diseases like Type-2 Diabetes, Stroke, Heart-related diseases, Hypertension, and along with that, it affects the respiratory system and causes respiratory disorders like obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pulmonary embolism, and aspiration pneumonia. So if any person is severely obese, he might have one of these diseases as well, which can increase the severity of COVID-19 in the patient.

It has been observed that the risk of getting complications with obese people is 2 times higher.
Obese patients have low immunity as compared to a fit person
Males in India are mostly affected with abdominal obesity, which can cause compression of the diaphragm and lungs, can reduce chest capacity.

What are the complications for COVID-19 affected obese patients?

According to a research conducted in New York, obesity is a considerable risk factor for COVID-19 hospitalized patients. The patients who have a BMI of 30 and above are more likely to be admitted in critical care as compared to the patients having a BMI of less than 25.

Breathing Issues – Severe obesity increases the chance of having breathing issues, generally called as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is a major symptom of coronavirus disease.
Inflammation – Inflammation is the most common condition with obesity which causes an increase in circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines which may worsen Covid-19 outcomes.
Need for ICU – Obese patients affected by corona virus would require intensive care and intubation.
Diagnostic Imaging – It is challenging to obtain diagnostic imaging as imaging machines have weight limits.
Special Care Equipment – For obese patients, special beds and positioning/transport equipment are required which are not commonly available in hospitals where COVID-19 patients are being admitted.
Mortality – Obesity can be a factor for higher risk of death from Covid-19

How obese people can prevent Coronavirus Infection?

People who are morbidly obese are prone to infections and have low immunity to fight. So here are some of the actions you can take in order to stay safe –

1. Take proper medications for underlying health conditions, as prescribed by your doctor
2. Stay home and maintain social distancing
3. Sanitize frequently
4. Cover your mouth while sneezing
5. Develop a care plan
6. Consult with your doctor or an obesity specialist to keep the existing respiratory condition in control

For more suggestions and consultation, you can contact Dr. Mohit Bhandari who is a renowned Bariatric, Metabolic and Robotic surgeon worldwide and has performed 15000+ obesity surgeries. He is a specialist on this topic. For consultation, obesity helpline – 6232012342

Tag: COVID-19