Obesity Considered Underlying Factor In COVID-19 Recovery
Published: Friday, April 24, 2020 - 4:27pm
Nearly 30% of Arizonans are considered obese, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
And in the age of COVID-19, obesity is considered an underlying health risk, according to Deb Wright, general manager of Weight Watchers Arizona.
“The hypothesis is that the extra fat, especially abdominal fat, compresses the chest cavity and there’s a mild inflammatory response in people who are obese,” she said.
Wright said people often turn to food for comfort to cope with stress or boredom.
And because many working from home may not be far from the cookie jar, restraint and portion control for meals are recommended.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines obesity in adults as having a body mass index over 30 or higher.
