Why does being severely overweight make you more vulnerable?

[SpunBodgeSquarepants]

Just as the title says really - why would that affect my immune system/lungs? I wasn't overly worried about catching COVID-19 myself until this evening, now I'm really anxious about what will happen to my little boy if something happened to me And I'm angry at myself for getting to a bmi of 45.

So sorry you're worried. I can only think it's because your body would have to fight harder to beat the infection as obesity compromises some organs. Anxiety won't help though....you could start trying to lose some weight now...channelling that worry into a positive outcome.

I would say because of the extra strain on heart / lungs / blood pressure etc?

More strain on your organs. More likely to have fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Not all obese people will have all or any of these things, but lots will have all or some at low levels and feel fine until their body has to work hard because of infection. All obese people have to work harder to breath due to mechanical pressure on lungs and the effects that has on lung volume and respiratory muscle strength.

@fortunesfave thank you, you're right - starting to eat healthily now will distract me I think.
@danni0509 so if my resting heart rate is always around 60bpm, and my blood pressure has never been high, I can stop worrying a bit?

Where has it been said that it makes you more vulnerable?

And if you're very overweight you arent likely to be very fit, with good lung capacity...so your body will need to work harder. Dont worry though IP, just focus on eating well (lots of veg, fruit, water etc)...sleeping...bit of activity like walking and stretching etc. That will all help boost your immune system. Hang in there

This is what’s worried me because I was under the impression it was the elderly and people who were very ill who were most at risk, after checking the list it now seems I am vulnerable, being over weight. I’m a size 18 so yes I am overweight so now I am at risk. Now I’m panicking because as I said I though I was otherwise healthy as I have no health conditions and now it seems that doesn’t matter anymore, yet we were told that only those who are elderly and seriously ill were at risk

I'm hoping so, my BP is low, resting heart rate is about 45 (been checked all ok) but I'm fat !

Thanks @stampMC, that's interesting and makes total sense.

Where has it been said that it makes you more vulnerable?

Gov website.

Obesity seems to set up a state of chronic inflammation which reduces white blood cells’ ability to function efficiently. Also, your heart has to work harder, lungs as well so could find it harder to cope with the extra stress of severe infection.
Weight loss can reverse these problems. It’s been shown that a 10% weight loss, whatever the starting point, will reduce various disease risks. Don’t waste time being angry, think of the way forward and turn this realisation into action. Good luck.

Thank you so much @DangerMouse17, so glad I started this thread as I felt sick with anxiety an hour ago! Feeling much better and in control now.

No you can't stop worrying OP....just because your blood pressure is normal, it doesn't follow other organs arent under pressure.

You need to make changes today...it's the only real way to take that anxiety about your son away.

Don't go on a 'diet'. Try to do some Youtube exercise videos and eat three reasonable meals a day....if you can go for a walk daily, do that too.

I’ve been following it quite closely today, but I’ve missed that being said. Can anyone link to the information please?

Aha I’ve found it!

I'm not sure but i lost over 3 stone by Christmas 2018 and a stone since and didn't have my usual November to March on and off cough etc. I do seem to pick up less bugs now and they don't linger like they did when my bmi was 37

New advice is anyone with a BMI of over 40 is at risk, check that online or on yr phones’s Health app if you’re not sure.

Lower heart rates in very obese people aren’t always an indication of heart health. It can be a sign of AF / CVD. I would try and get your health checked out asap if possible.

You’re more likely to have underlying health issues, those in turn are more likely to put massive strain on your heart and lungs, the very organs targeted by Covid. You may well have type 2 diabetes but not be aware yet. But you’re ok because you can run up a flight of stairs!

Obese people are not healthy, you’re obese. A BM I of 45 is morbidly obese, especially for a 32 year old. Unless you are like 16 feet tall.

I read something online earlier that it was noticed that some of the deaths occurred in people who were very overweight but I can't find it now.

All you can do is eat healthily(lots of fresh veg and fruit),eat less,plenty more f fluids and chase your son around the garden if you have one.
Make a food plan and only buy what's on it.The temptation to go out and buy snacks will be less if you are restricting contact with people.See this as an opportunity.!
And good luck, it's hard but worth it not just for this crisis but for life.

Obesity reduces your lung volume and capacity, because additional weight reduces how much your chest can expand. So you can get less oxygen in.

It increases your body's demand for oxygen, as the fat cells use some.

In combination, that means that you have less slack in the system, should your breathing become compromised.

It is significantly harder to maintain an airway in an obese patient, in essence because the fat gets in the way. It's harder to ventilate someone with obesity, because the weight on the chest wall means you have to use more force to expand the lungs. You can get around that by using more pressure, but the more pressure you use to ventilate someone, the more you damage the lungs.

Obesity is also linked to other health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes that pose a risk.