Pfizer vaccine may not work as well on people with obesity, new study shows

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine might not work as well on people with obesity, according to a new study out of Italy.

Researchers studied 248 health care workers and gave them all two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

They found those with obesity made half as many antibodies against COVID-19 as compared to those considered healthy.

COVID-19 and obesity. They might be tied more closely than you think. @MeganWFTV breaks down the new research and gets tips from a local doctor. Coming up on #WFTV Tonight at 11pm. @VEcholsWFTV @GregWarmothWFTV pic.twitter.com/I1ifYmsCPy
— WFTV Channel 9 (@WFTV) March 6, 2021

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Obesity is defined as having a body mass index over 30.

Dr. William Jones, a weight loss specialist, said he’s “not surprised at all” by the study.

“When we get into that area, we’re going to have a failure in your immune system,” he said. “It is taxing the body and hurting the body.”

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That’s also why people with obesity are generally more susceptible to disease to begin with, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke and even COVID-19.

Separate research has found flu vaccines are also half as effective in people with obesity.

The Italian study is the first of its kind to suggest a similar problem with COVID-19 vaccines.

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Jones said you can address all these issues by learning how to burn fact correctly, such as:

”Bananas, raisins, melons, they’re great fruit. But if you’re trying to lose weight, body fat, they’re going to hinder you,” Jones said. He suggests grapes, apples and oranges.
As for exercise, don’t overdo it. “If you and I can talk, that means there’s enough oxygen in the furnace. And that’s how we burn body fat,” Jones said.
Live by the one-hour and five-hour rules. “When you’re awake, you should eat within the hour,” Jones said. “The five-hour rule (states to) try not to go more than five hours during the waking hours without food.”

Why? When you don’t eat, you don’t burn fat.

“Basically, blood sugar goes up without food,” Jones said. “Once blood sugar goes up, insulin starts rising and when insulin rises, it is physically impossible to burn body fat.”