Why Does Obesity Put People At Greater Risk for Complications or Death from H1N1?

By Julie Stachowiak, PhD
Multiple Sclerosis Guide; Guest blogger

It looks like people who are morbidly obese are at increased danger for problems from H1N1. Morbidly obese is defined as body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 40. To put this into perspective, a woman who is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 247 pounds has a BMI of 40. You can find out your BMI by using this BMI calculator. Experts are also saying that people who are merely obese, with a BMI between 30 and 39, should also be evaluated carefully if they exhibit signs of the flu, as they may have some of the same risks as people who are morbidly obese.

So, why would obesity be such a risk factor? It is not so much the obesity that is the issue, but the problems that often accompany obesity, which include:

• diabetes
• asthma
• chronic respiratory illness
• liver disease
• cardiac problems

In addition, morbid obesity often puts its own strain on the lungs and heart.

Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending the following: “Patients with obesity or morbid obesity should be carefully evaluated for the presence of underlying medical conditions that are known to increase the risk for influenza complications, and receive empiric treatment when these conditions are present, or if signs of lower respiratory tract infection are present.”

So, just to reiterate, if you are obese or morbidly obese and have symptoms of the flu, see your doctor as soon as possible to determine whether or not you should be started on antivirals and what other precautions might be undertaken. Remember, antivirals are most effective if taken within 48 hours of symptom onset - within 24 hours is even better.