90 percent COVID-19 deaths occur in countries with a high percentage of overweight people

Countries with a high percentage of overweight people have the highest coronavirus death rates, according to a World Obesity Federation report. Belgium is the worst in these statistics, with the largest number of deaths per 100 people in this country. residents. Poland also has cause for concern. Although the number of deaths per population is much lower, we have a growing number of overweight and obese people.

1. Almost 90 percent deaths due to the coronavirus occurred in countries where a large percentage of people are overweight, according to the WOF report
2. In Belgium, where he is almost 60 percent overweight. adults, 171 people per 100 died due to the virus residents
3. In some countries, the risk of dying from COVID-19 in obese people increases up to six times
4. Too many overweight people is another pandemic that awaits us, says the author of the report
5. More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.

Coronavirus and obesity: in which countries are the most deaths?

According to a report by The World Obesity Federation, approximately 2,2 million of the 2,5 million deaths caused by COVID-19 occurred in countries where the proportion of people is overweight. It’s 90 percent. all cases. Countries in which over 50 percent adults are overweight, they have the highest percentage of coronavirus-related deaths.

WOF considers overweight the moment when the BMI (Body Mass Index, or Quetelet’s index, allows to estimate whether the body weight is correct) exceeds 25, and obesity occurs when the BMI is greater than 30.

Among countries where more than half of the adult population is overweight, Belgium has the highest death rate. According to the report, per 100 people in the population, the number of fatal cases was almost 171. Data up to January 1, 2021 were taken into account.

In further places there were, among others Slovenia (130 deaths per 100), Italy (123 per 100), the United Kingdom (111 deaths per 100) and the United States (105 per 100). In Poland, the number of fatal coronavirus cases, according to WOF data, per 100. inhabitants amounted to 75.

When it comes to being overweight, from the above list of countries, the largest percentage is in the USA – 67,9%. In UK Britain is overweight by 63,7 percent. adults. Almost 60 percent overweight adults are found in Belgium (59,5%), France (59,5%), Italy (58%), Poland (58,3%) and Portugal (57,5%).

1. Obese people are at a higher risk of the severe form of coronavirus infection

The USA is also the most obese (over 36%) and the United Kingdom. Britain (almost 28 percent). Poland with 23 percent it is higher in this comparison than in the case of overweight. We are ahead of, among others Belgium, France and Italy.

At the other extreme there is, among others Vietnam. It has one of the lowest obesity rates (2,1%) and the average COVID-19 deaths are just 0,04 per 100. residents.

Obesity and overweight – another pandemic

The director general of the World Health Organization said the report must be a wake-up call to governments around the world. In his opinion, they should increase shipments to fight obesity and the health consequences of obesity.

The link between obesity and COVID-19 mortality is obvious, said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of WOF. ‘Investing in public health as well as coordinated international action to tackle the root causes of obesity is one of the best ways to build resilience,’ he added.

Age is the biggest factor in the death toll, according to the report, with overweight being the second biggest factor.

“We were shocked to see such a high correlation between the percentage of overweight adults and deaths caused by COVID-19,” said Dr. Tim Lobstein, author of the report and former WHO adviser. – We knew there was a problem in several countries, but now we have found that it is much bigger than it seems.

“The weight problem is another pandemic that awaits us,” added Lobstein.

According to the World Obesity Federation, overweight people should have a higher priority in the line for COVID-19 immunization and testing due to the increased risk of death.

1. Obese people may be less responsive to the Pfizer vaccine

Coronavirus and obesity: the risk of death increases several times

The World Obesity Federation in the report presented data from over a dozen countries showing the relationship between obesity and the risk of serious complications related to COVID-19. Data were collected by national research centers. There was no Poland in the presented examples

1. In China, the risk of serious complications from COVID-19 increased by 84% in overweight people, and in obese people the risk increased by 240%.
2. In the United States, obese people required hospitalization more than twice as often, they needed a respirator six times more often, the risk of death also increased sixfold
3. UK In the United Kingdom, the need for intensive care in overweight people increased by 67%, and in the case of obese people it was even threefold
4. In Spain, the risk of dying from COVID-19 in obese people was 51% higher.
5. In France, obese people needed a respirator seven times as often as non-overweight people
6. In Sweden, obese people were three times more likely to die from the coronavirus
7. In Italy, obese people were five times more likely to require intensive care after being infected with COVID-19
8. In Switzerland, obese people were more than twice as likely to require the use of a respirator
9. In Mexico, obese people are 56 percent more frequent. required hospitalization, and the risk of death as a result of COVID-19 increased by 75%.

Obesity and overweight in Poland

According to the WOF report – data from 2016 – in Poland over 23 percent. of adults are obese, the percentage of overweight people is 58,3. The report also presents other data, including nutrition and exercise.

The number of obese and overweight people is constantly increasing. It is estimated that in 2025, 30,3 percent will be obese in our country. adult men and almost 26 percent. women.

1. National Health Test of Poles. Is Poland a country of obese people? [INFOGRAPHICS]

The data on children look even more disturbing. According to the report, in 15 years the percentage of obese children aged 5-19 will double – from 6,6%. in 2010 to 13,4 percent. in 2025

According to the authors of the report, we eat too little legumes (Poland is marked in the darkest color, meaning annual consumption below 2 kg per person) and too much animal fats (at least 10 kg per year per person, we are in the group of countries with the highest consumption, which is marked in the darkest color on the map).

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