The insidious nature of COVID-19 infection becomes more evident, and dangerous, for children who are obese.
We all know the dangers of being obese, but a new threat from COVID-19 is downright shocking. Dr. Kyle Happel, a pulmonary and critical care professor with LSU Health explains.
"We do have pretty good evidence that COVID-19 virus itself can indeed infect fat cells. So individuals that have more adipose, or more fat tissue, are more likely to have a higher load of the virus in their body."
What does this mean and how does it affect the body of a child? Pediatrician Dr. Anthony Hudson describes:
"There is a phenomenon associated with childhood obesity and the rates at which the lungs in the larger airways grow that essentially leads to air trapping in the lungs and again worsening prognosis of COVID-19 infection."
Hudson says lockdowns, and missing school are driving the obesity epidemic, which is putting kids at an even higher threat for becoming infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Happel says with a higher COVID-19 viral load, more serious complications from the virus can appear:
"One of the problems when you get sick with COVID-19 is that you get a tremendous inflammatory response on the body. That may be more deleterious to the body than the infection itself. And so, to sum it up, people who are obese are much more likely to experience severe inflammation, organ failure or blood clots."
Both Drs. Happel and Hudson say COVID infections among children are accelerating. They say lockdowns and school closures have driven up the obesity rates among kids making for a perfect storm of COVID susceptibility.
"COVID-19, driving us indoors, limiting access to sports and recreation as well as lending itself to unhealthy eating. And then unfortunately with this respiratory illness, and like many other respiratory illnesses being obese tends to make respiratory illnesses worse or have increased morbidity."
Both physicians recommend diet and exercise for weight loss and maintaining health. They say it can be as simple as just getting out of the house and going for a walk.
