There is no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic has drastically changed the way you live and the way you think about things you once took for granted. For most, becoming infected will result in symptoms similar to a severe case of the flu, while some may not have noticeable symptoms. However, a small percentage of people who become infected will suffer tremendously and some will die. Earlier in the year, when the virus was barely reaching our shores, we looked at other countries that were further along the “curve.” We were told that this virus could be fatal, but mainly for the elderly who already suffered from other chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and COPD. It became critically important to protect our vulnerable older adults, particularly those in community housing or nursing homes. We scold the young people who partied on the beaches during spring break, bringing the coronavirus back to their homes, families and grandparents.
Then the other shoe dropped when we learned that young Americans were hospitalized and even died from this “elderly” disease. Why don’t dying young people in the US and other countries report the same statistics that we’re seeing here? Are other countries not reporting accurately, or is there something different about the virus when it arrived in the US? Why do we see such high death rates (coronavirus deaths as a percentage of the population) in our big cities that exceed the rates in other countries?
While we in the United States may choose to ignore the elephant in the room, other countries have warned of our vulnerability.
Being overweight is a major risk for people infected with the new coronavirus and the United States is particularly vulnerable due to high levels of obesity there, France’s chief epidemiologist said on Wednesday.
World NewsApril 8, 2020
Americans are among the most vulnerable in the world to the coronavirus due to their rising rates of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.dailymail.com
Posted: 6:58 PM EDT, March 30, 2020
Other countries talk about the obesity problem in the United States, but here in the US we blame the poor outcomes of the virus on high blood pressure, diabetes and prediabetes, race, poverty, etc. However, it is rare to hear that being overweight is an independent risk factor despite the fact that it is the basis of almost all chronic diseases that make us vulnerable.
Dr. Robert Eckel, president of medicine and science for the American Diabetes Association, told Business Insider that a “sophisticated internist” in New York City told him that at least 90% of people under the age of 50 who saw ventilated due to COVID-19 were obese.Business Insider 11/4/2020
Yes, America, we are fat and we don’t want to talk about it. But there is good news amidst the bad… We can learn from this pandemic and change our habits and lifestyle to become healthier and boost our immunity at the same time. Surprisingly, losing just 10 pounds can often reverse type 2 diabetes and improve most other chronic diseases. And maintaining a healthy weight not only protects against Covid-19, but also against other viruses and flu infections.
So let’s not waste any more time America! You can get on the road to health right now by scheduling a free health consultation to learn steps you can take right away to improve your resistance to this and future viruses.