BMI string test: How to determine your risk of severe Covid infection – Dr Zoe



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BMI is a comparison of your weight and height and reveals whether you are at a healthy weight. The NHS website offers a BMI calculator. Living with excess weight puts people at increased risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19

According to figures released by the government last July, nearly 8 percent of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units were morbidly obese, compared to 2.9 percent of the general population.

It is therefore extremely important to know your BMI. But for those who want a “quick guide” and don’t have a tape measure or scale handy, Dr Zoe Williams has revealed the rope test.

Appearing on ITV This Morning, she explained, “Make sure it’s a long piece of string, stand on it, take a rough measurement of your height.

“To pick up [the string] with the tip of your toe, fold it in half and see if it wraps around the fullest part of your belly.

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“If this is true, the chances that you are suffering from obesity are lower.

“If not, it’s definitely worth buying scales and measuring your height.

Excess body fat affects the ability of organs to function properly.

It affects metabolism and increases a person’s level of visceral fat – body fat that wraps around a person’s internal organs.

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Dr Zoe explained that when this type of fat just sits there doing nothing it makes chemicals – it makes inflammatory chemicals.

And if you get COVID-19, the body reacts slightly differently, which is why more severe cases of the virus have been seen in obese people.

The TV doctor has announced if your BMI is 40 or more to seek help from your GP.

Although body fat cannot be eliminated, you may be eligible for level 3 weight management services.

But Dr Zoe said it’s important to note that BMI doesn’t always tell you how active you are, how many fruits and veggies you eat, or how good your sleep is.

The gap in Covid vaccine adoption between people from Black, Asian, and Ethnic Minority (BAME) communities and white individuals has been revealed.

Adoption among black, Asian, mixed and other groups was 71.5% between December 8 and February 14, compared to 85.6% in the white ethnic group.

A survey by Public Health Wales (PHW) also found a gap between those living in the most disadvantaged areas and the least disadvantaged.

Dr Zoe commented: “Anyone at high risk – the vaccine is safe.

“There are valid reasons why people are afraid… I have told my whole family to go ahead and get the vaccine, and I encourage everyone to do the same.



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