A new study has revealed why morbidly obese people are more at risk for dying from Covid-19.
The study shows morbidly obese people are at high risk of dying from Covid-19 because their fat cells produce more of a protein that the virus needs to infect human cells.
Fat cells express more ACE2 receptors, which doctors say may explain why obese people are more at risk of dying from Covid-19.
The coronavirus attaches to ACE2 receptors that provide pathways into human cells. Researchers and epidemiologists have known for some time that the coronavirus infects people who have more ACE2 receptors. European white women have the least level of ACE2 receptors.
For instance, more men die from coronavirus than women. That is because men express more ACE2 in their testicles. Biological women don’t have testicles.
The study collected data from hospitalized patients.
A separate study found that 66% of hospitalized patients were infected while at home on quarantine.
Doctors fear that restrictions such as sheltering at home may cause the infection to spread faster between family members than if they were outdoors.
