Decoding the Connection Between Obesity and the Flu
Each winter, hospitals, universities, and drug stores begin to offer an unfortunately controversial service: flu shots. Vaccination against influenza, a virus causing fever, stuffy nose, body aches, sore throat, and countless other symptoms, is integral to lessening the severity and spread of the disease. Flu shots, however, are typically only offered for a limited time during the peak season of infection. Given this, how might one prevent the severity and spread of the disease throughout the rest of the year?
According to a recent study performed at the University of Michigan School of Public Health (UMSPH), the answer to this question may lie in controlling obesity. As the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, obesity weakens the body’s ability to protect itself against diseases like influenza by causing chronic inflammation and altering immune system function. While this connection between obesity and flu severity has been studied previously, UMSPH researchers proceeded to explore a different aspect of this relationship: obesity’s tendency to make flu patients contagious for a longer period of time. In addition to causing weakening of the immune system, obesity changes the body’s oxygen requirements and can increase flu transmission due to difficulties in breathing.
The researchers analyzed obesity’s effect on the duration of viral shedding, the amount of time patients remained contagious, in approximately 1,800 people throughout the 2015-2017 flu seasons in Nicaragua. To determine the presence of viral shedding, the researchers took nose and throat samples from the patients that indicated presence of the influenza virus. From their study, they obtained the following results:
According to a recent study performed at the University of Michigan School of Public Health (UMSPH), the answer to this question may lie in controlling obesity. As the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, obesity weakens the body’s ability to protect itself against diseases like influenza by causing chronic inflammation and altering immune system function. While this connection between obesity and flu severity has been studied previously, UMSPH researchers proceeded to explore a different aspect of this relationship: obesity’s tendency to make flu patients contagious for a longer period of time. In addition to causing weakening of the immune system, obesity changes the body’s oxygen requirements and can increase flu transmission due to difficulties in breathing.
The researchers analyzed obesity’s effect on the duration of viral shedding, the amount of time patients remained contagious, in approximately 1,800 people throughout the 2015-2017 flu seasons in Nicaragua. To determine the presence of viral shedding, the researchers took nose and throat samples from the patients that indicated presence of the influenza virus. From their study, they obtained the following results:
- Infected obese adults displaying symptoms shed the Influenza A virus for 42% longer than non-obese adults.
- Infected obese adults without symptoms shed Influenza A virus for 104% longer than non-obese adults.
Diet and physical activity could influence obesity by changing the way the body stores and uses fat.
Image Source: moreharmony
Considering the results of this study, prevention of the flu requires not only the promotion of widespread vaccination during peak infection periods, but equal promotion of healthy lifestyle habits year round. According to The Commonwealth Fund, about 40% of US adults were obese from 2015-2016, up from 34% in 2007-2008. As obesity in the U.S. increases, so too does the risk of heart disease, cancer, flu severity, and flu transmission. To combat these effects of obesity, public health measures must be employed to educate communities about the importance of a balanced diet and regular physical activity, lifestyle changes that could aid maintenance of a healthy body weight. Although curbing the spread of a viral infection can be daunting, working to minimize the conditions that enhance its severity can improve the overall health of people not only during flu season, but for the entire year.
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