Fat People More Likely to die of Swine Flu

There is now one more reason to be concerned about being overweight. New data has suggested that obesity, especially extreme obesity (BMI over 40), raises swine flu victims' chance of dying.

The study, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, looked at the cases of ten swine flu patients at a Michigan hospital, all of whom had to be placed on ventilators due to the severity of their illness.

Another survey of people hospitalized because of swine flu in California has raised the possibility that obesity is as much of a risk factor for serious complications from flu as diabetes, heart disease and pregnancy, all known to raise a person's risk.

"We were surprised by the frequency of obesity among the severe cases that we've been tracking," said Anne Schuchat, one of the CDC epidemiologists managing the swine-flu outbreak.

She said "we're looking into" the possibility that obese people should be at the head of the line along with other high-risk groups if a swine-flu vaccine becomes available.

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