BY SANDRA GUY

Obesity’s health risks can no longer be ignored. People with obesity, regardless of age, are more likely to be hospitalized with the coronavirus and have a higher risk of complications and even death, research shows.

More than 42 percent of U.S. adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What are obesity’s risks? It’s a condition that keeps the body in a chronic state of low-grade inflammation. That situation reduces the body’s ability to fight off COVID-19 and its respiratory infection.

People with obesity also have a compromised immune system that’s more susceptible to infections, doctors say.

These situations pose particularly serious issues with COVID because people with obesity suffer from greater respiratory distress because their airways, ribcage and reserve volume add up to danger zones.

So how do you reverse obesity when each day feels like a slog and it’s so easy to just eat that chocolate?

One of the keys is to monitor your intake of sugar. It’s lurking, hiding in packaged foods, breads and drinks. Check the labels.

Americans get about 20 percent of their calories from sugar — double the target in the current guidelines.

What can you do? Just a few ways to get started:

• Use oil instead of solid fats. Olive oil kicks butter to the curb every time, and canola oil is a great alternative when you’re baking.
• Prepare fish, such as salmon and mackerel, instead of meat at least twice a week to take advantage of the omega-3 fatty acids. Bake or broil it.
• Keep packaged and canned food out of your house as much as possible. Just do it. Snack on fresh fruits and vegetables.

Meet with an expert to set goals — even if you meet via Zoom — and find someone who inspires you. Try to find buddies who hold you and each other accountable for a healthier lifestyle.

After enduring the endless exhaustions of a pandemic, now is the time.