Dr. Badmus Habeeb, President, Association of Resident Doctors, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, says fat persons who contract COVID-19 have higher risks of complications.
Habeeb told the News Agency of Nigeria in Ilorin on Friday that fat people were more likely to have other diseases that were independent risk factors for severe COVID-19 than average-weight persons.
He listed such diseases to include heart and lung diseases and diabetes among others.
Habeeb said fat people have baseline respiratory issues that worsens COVID-19 naturally.
He said: “Someone with obesity is already at risk of respiratory compromise and we already know that COVID-19 affects the respiratory system majorly.
“Therefore, predisposing the already compromised system would further jeopardise the person’s health.”
The expert said obesity is also known to coexist with chronic diseases like hypertension and metabolic diseases.
Habeeb said: “These group of people cope poorly with COVID-19 infection.
“The biology of obesity includes impaired immunity, chronic inflammation and blood that’s prone to clot, all of which can worsen COVID-19.”
NAN.
