Obesity and Your Flu Shot | Midwest Weight Control

As temperatures drop across the nation, conscientious students and workers are lining up for their yearly flu shots. Viruses like influenza can be transmitted more easily when chilly weather forces people to stay inside. For a growing group of people around the world, a vaccination may not be enough to ward off this seasonal disease. Researchers have found that flu shots are less effective in obese individuals.

Doctors have known for years that overweight individuals are more likely to suffer serious complications from influenza. People who carry a great deal of excess weight are much more likely to suffer from health problems like respiratory disorders. The congestion and coughing that comes with a mild case of influenza can turn an existing respiratory condition into a life-threatening illness.

Researchers also know that the human immune system can be impaired by excess weight. CD8+ T-cells, white blood cells that are essential to fighting off infections, can be less effective in overweight individuals. This makes it easier for obese people to catch diseases like the flu.

This increased risk of contracting influenza combined with the possibility of severe complications makes the flu season particularly difficult for overweight individuals. For years, doctors have urged their overweight patients to protect themselves from influenza with vaccinations. Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that the flu vaccine is not as effective in individuals who carry extra weight. Since vaccine dosages vary by weight, researchers believe that overweight patients are not receiving the full dosage they need to stay healthy.

Fortunately, weight loss is possible even during the food-rich holiday season. Dieters who want to stay healthy should consider meal replacement shakes in St. Cloud as an alternative to traditional diet plans. A meal replacement program is the ideal weight loss solution during the holidays, when parties and family dinners tempt dieters to pile on extra portions and pounds.