Yesterday began as usual with a dog walk followed by the morning newspapers, in which we read that the risk of suffering from severe covid-19 increases even from people with a BMI over 23.

We have highlighted both here on the blog and in our podcast that obesity is a risk factor for suffering from increased covid-19 complications, but now a new British study shows that the risk of being seriously affected by covid-19 increases even for those people just within the upper range of normal weight.

The study is based on analysis made on medical records belonging to almost seven million British residents who had their weight and height registered at their respective health centers. Of these people, around 13,500 were hospitalized for covid-19, 1,600 received intensive care and just under 5,500 died of the disease.

In SvD, Per Svensson, associate professor and chief physician in cardiology at Södersjukhuset, says that the results of the study give reason to prioritize even people with a BMI lower than 40 for early vaccination (today only people with a BMI over 40 are included in the earlier vaccination phases).

– If you have a level between 23-25, you do not need to be more worried, as that increase in risk is so small. But at some point of course, that risk does rise, so if you have a BMI over 30, it is good to just be aware that there is an increased risk, says Per Svensson to SvD.

More on covid-19 from FP:

The Links Between Type 2 Diabetes and Severe Covid-19 Illness

Leaky Gut Causes Higher Severity of Covid-19

Gut Bacteria And COVID-19 – New Research!