B2 – Upper Intermediate
Scientists believe excess body fat disrupts the immune system, making the body less able to fight viruses and bacteria. Experts are urging governments to promote healthier food access and physical activity to prevent hospitalizations and deaths as obesity rates continue rising worldwide.
Read the article to know why obesity is not only a weight problem; it also weakens immunity.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “infectious disease” mean? Use the phrase in a sentence. “Our finding that obesity is a risk factor for a wide range of infectious diseases suggests that broad biological mechanisms may be involved.”
- What is “dataset”? Use the term in a sentence. “The study analysed data from over 67,000 adults in Finland and over 470,000 adults in the UK Biobank dataset to look at the relationship between obesity and severe infectious disease.”
- What does “underlying” mean? Use the word in a sentence. “Kivimäki noted, however, that additional research is required to confirm the mechanisms underlying these associations.”
Discussion Questions:
- What surprised you most about how obesity affects the immune system?
- Which illnesses become more dangerous for people who are obese?
- The article says some infection-related deaths are linked to obesity why do you think that happens?
- Why do experts say obesity is more than just a “weight” problem?
- What do you think governments or people can actually do to lower these health risks?