- Obesity makes you eligible for an early COVID-19 vaccine in several states.
- Evidence shows that it can be a big risk for more serious viral infections and complications.
- But the stigma of weight can sometimes make it difficult for people with obesity to access medical care.
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As the United States continues its efforts to vaccinate Americans against COVID-19, people with underlying health problems are being moved to the front of the line.
In 15 states, obesity is currently one of those qualifying conditions.
That’s because having a body mass index (BMI) above 30, the cutoff for obesity, is considered a risk factor for serious coronavirus complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Unlike other chronic conditions, like diabetes or cancer, obesity comes with a social stigma that can lead to poor treatment, even by healthcare professionals, according to Dr. W. Scott Butsch, director of obesity medicine Cleveland Clinic. Stigma can also cause people to delay medical treatment.
In some cases, people with obesity may not even realize that they may receive an early vaccine. They may be aware that their weight is a health risk, but they do not know their exact BMI.
“Many people come to my clinic and are surprised when we discuss the number,” said Butsch.
Although BMI is an imperfect measure of health, more than 40% of American adults are obese. That’s an estimated 78 million people, so it’s worth checking your BMI to see if you qualify.
How to know if your BMI gives you access to a vaccine
Your BMI is determined by body weight in relation to height and you can calculate it on the CDC website (or if you like math, take your weight in pounds, divide it twice by your height in inches and multiply that total by 703) .
A number between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight, 30 or more is considered obesity and 40+ is classified as severe obesity.
Obesity is a qualifying condition for vaccine eligibility in Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming.
You are eligible if you have severe obesity in Montana and Missouri.
People with obesity, in addition to another underlying condition, such as diabetes, qualify in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Other states may include obesity as a qualifying condition, as vaccine distribution continues. Availability changes regularly from state to state, and even from county to county, so check your local guidelines.
Obesity is a known risk factor for COVID-19 complications
Obesity is associated with more severe cases of COVID-19, as well as an increased risk of complications. In April, the researchers found that obesity was the most significant chronic risk factor for hospitalization among patients with coronavirus. Evidence also found that when a person has obesity and COVID-19 simultaneously, a higher BMI means that they are more likely to die from complications of the virus.
Obesity is also more common among blacks and Hispanic Americans, which data show that they tend to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
With all the research suggesting that people with obesity are at high risk, Butsch said it is surprising that more states are not making this a priority for early access to the vaccine.
“With the call to follow science, I am very curious as to whether there is a bit of hypocrisy when we do not follow the evidence to prioritize people with obesity in the distribution of the vaccine,” he said.
BMI is an imperfect measure of health
You can have a high BMI and be perfectly healthy. You may not even appear to be obese.
“At an individual level, BMI may not be a perfect indicator of someone’s health risk. It is one of several measures we have to assess health risks,” said Butsch.
This is because the BMI does not take into account body composition.
Someone with a large amount of muscle mass may be of sufficient weight to be classified as being overweight or obese, even if he is metabolically healthy. The same applies to especially tall people.
BMI also does not take into account where people carry their weight. Not all body fat is created the same way; Research suggests that belly or visceral fat (around the organs) is associated with more health risks compared to fat around the hips and thighs, for example.
Since the BMI was created in the 19th century and was based on what was typical of white Europeans at that time, it may not be accurate to assess the health of different demographic groups, including people of different races.
If you are at high risk, it is worth checking if you can be vaccinated now
Weight stigma can discourage people who could benefit from the vaccine from getting one. Butsch said that people with obesity have probably encountered prejudice and judgment from medical service providers and, as a result, feel frustrated with the health care system.
Fear of weight and body image can also prevent people from controlling their weight, especially if it has changed recently, so they may not even know if they can access the vaccine.
This is one more reason to check your BMI and apply for a vaccine if you are in the high risk category.
“Many individuals with obesity know that they are at increased risk and are much more likely to receive the vaccine,” said Butsch. “Many individuals are so concerned that they can’t wait to get a vaccine.”