COVID-19 and your health
Top tips to help keep you and your family stay safe

COVID-19 and you
As we move through the COVID-19 pandemic, studies from the United Kingdom show that people living with obesity are up to one and a half times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 when compared to those in the healthy weight range.
Once infected with COVID-19, people living with overweight and obesity are more likely to experience severe disease outcomes.
Whilst the connection between living with overweight and obesity, and severe outcomes from COVID-19 are not yet clearly understood, it is thought that underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune disease or oral steroid use may be contributing factors.
Protect yourself
If you are living with overweight and obesity there are things you can do to protect yourself so as to minimise your risk of contracting COVID-19. If you become infected, there are also things you can do to try and minimise the impacts on your health.
These include:
- Getting vaccinated, including your booster shot if eligible. Find a vaccination clinic near you on the Roll up for WA website. All WA health staff administering COVID-19 vaccinations are trained and understand when there may be a requirement to use a larger needle to ensure correct administration of the vaccine for people living in larger bodies.
- Wearing a mask when in public.
- Washing your hands frequently. Learn how to wash your hands properly here.
- Carrying hand sanitiser for those times you cannot wash your hands.
- Maintaining a physical distance from people â at least 1.5m.
- Avoiding large indoors social events if possible.
- Being aware of COVID-19 symptoms.

Prepare yourself
Despite your best efforts, you may still contract COVID-19 so it is important to be prepared in the event you do become ill. Steps you can take include:
- Checking in with your trusted health professional to discuss your specific risks and whether there is anything specific you can do to prepare yourself if you become ill.
- Developing a COVID plan for yourself, including identifying a support person who you can reach out to if you become unwell.
- Preparing a COVID-19 Care Kit: Information can be found under the “Be Prepared” tab.
- Purchasing some easy to prepare foods in case you need to isolate.
- Buying some Rapid Antigen Test (RATS) so you wonât have to leave the house to get tested if you develop symptoms. If you live in Western Australia, you can apply for 15 free tests per household here.
Additional COVID-19 resources
Itâs important you are as informed as possible to help you stay healthy. Below are some additional resources that might help you.
- Looking after yourself with COVID-19
- General information on COVID-19 from WA Health
- Resources for Aboriginal people
- Information for people who are immunocompromised
- Information for patients and carers including fact sheets for people with diabetes, endocrine conditions, or undertaking renal dialysis
- The impact of overweight and obesity on COVID-19 outcomes