BMI? Am I at risk of COVID?

This article has been written and medically approved by Pharmacist Conor McSorley GPhC Reg No. 2223070

Public Health England have suggested that excess weight is associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation with COVID, but what exactly is BMI?

BMI stands for body mass index.

It is a measure of how healthy your weight is, compared to your height. BMI can be used to ascertain body fat. Which is important as high levels of body fat are linked to heart disease, stroke and diabetes. The importance of BMI has also been highlighted in the covid 19 pandemic, as there is a correlation between an unhealthy weight and complications due to the virus. The BMI  calculation divides an adults weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. For example a BMI of 25 means 25kg/m2 

BMI Ranges 

•  Below 18.5: you are underweight 
•  Between 18.5 and 24.9 : you are in a healthy weight range 
•  Between 25 and 29.5 : you are in the overweight range 
•  Between 30 and 39.5 : you are in the obese range 

If you’re overweight or obese, losing weight can reduce your risk of some potentially serious health problems. Most people who need to lose weight can get health benefits from losing even a small amount (about 5%) of their weight if they keep it off. Browns Pharmacy have a range of products to help lose weight including health fryers, health scales and blenders