Habeeb told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Friday that fat people were more likely to have other diseases that were independent risk factors for severe COVID-19 than average-weight persons.

He listed such diseases to include heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes,  among others.

Habeeb said that fat people have baseline respiratory issues that worsen COVID-19 naturally.

“Someone with obesity is already at risk of respiratory compromise and we already know that COVID-19 affects the respiratory system majorly.

“Therefore,  predisposing the already compromised system would further jeopardize the person’s health,’’ he said.

The expert said that obesity is also known to coexist with chronic diseases like hypertension and metabolic diseases.

“These group of people cope poorly with COVID-19 infection.

“The biology of obesity includes impaired immunity, chronic inflammation, and blood that’s prone to clot, all of which can worsen COVID-19,’’ he said.