You can make changes and manage your risk factors!
Learn about a prescription medication for weight management
1. Health risks you should be aware of
Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight for adult men and women. A person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese.2
Between 1999 to 2018, the prevalence of obesity in U.S. adults has increased from:
31% to 42%3
What’s your BMI?
Being overweight or obese (BMI of 25 or higher) can contribute to many health conditions that can damage your body and decrease your quality of life, including:1
Increased risks from COVID-19
According to the CDC, people of any age who are considered obese (BMI of 30 or higher) are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.4 The CDC reports that:
Among 17,452 adults hospitalized because of COVID-19 between March 1 and November 30, 2020, obesity (BMI of 30 or higher) was an underlying medical conditions in 49.1% of these cases.5
According to the CDC, obesity (BMI of 30 or higher) is linked to impaired immune function and may triple the risk of hospitalization due to a COVID-19 infection.6
2. You have the power to make changes
Weight loss can reduce your risks
Start with setting realistic weight-loss goals. The NIH recommends the following as healthy weight-loss goals:
- 10% weight loss over 6 months7
- Lose weight slowly (1 to 2 pounds a week)7
Stress and weight loss
People who wish to lose weight often cite stress as a major issue.8 Keep a few healthy activities at hand so that you know what you can do when stress makes you want to eat.
- Try listening to music, reading a good book, taking a walk, or thinking about a favorite place8
3. Weight-loss medications may help
As noted by the National Institute of Health, there are FDA-approved prescription medications for weight management that you can discuss with your healthcare provider. Used in conjunction with diet and exercise, these solutions can help people achieve meaningful weight loss.9
How do these medications work?
Some of these prescription medications may help you feel less hungry or full sooner.9
Other medications may make it harder for your body to absorb fat from the foods you eat.9
Talk to your doctor to determine if a weight-loss medication is right for you.
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE
As the CDC states, overweight (defined as a BMI > 25 kg/m2 but < 30 kg/m2), obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 but < 40 kg/m2), or severe obesity (BMI of ≥ 40 kg/m2), can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.4
The following are actions you can take based on your medical conditions and other risk factors:
Take your prescription medicines exactly as prescribed.4
Follow your current treatment plan to keep your medical condition under control.4
Make sure that you have at least a 30-day supply of your medicines.4
Call your healthcare provider if you have concerns or feel sick.4
All CDC data and documents referenced in this webpage sourced as of March 29th, 2021.
References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Obesity Causes & Consequences (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/causes.html
2. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Calculate Your Body Mass Index (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmi-m.htm
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Obesity Facts (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with Certain Medical Conditions (Mar 29, 2021). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html#MedicalConditionsAdults
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVIDView. A Weekly Surveillance Summary of U.S. COVID-19 Activity (Key Updates for Week 4, ending January 30, 2021). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/pdf/covidview-02-05-2021.pdf
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity, Race/Ethnicity, and COVID-19 (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/obesity-and-covid-19.html
7. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Key Recommendations (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/recommen.htm
8. LEARN® Program provided under copyright license (September 15, 2010). Retrieved from https://www.qandmesupport.com/living-well/support-and-motivation/stress-and-eating
9. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight and Obesity (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/prescription-medications-treat-overweight-obesity