For months, health experts have cautioned that obese patients are more likely to be hospitalized and need mechanical ventilation if they contract COVID-19. Now, researchers say prior bariatric surgery may reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. However, in group of patients who had bariatric surgery before, only 18% required hospital admission after COVID-19. None of the patients who had bariatric surgery were admitted to the ICU, none needed ventilators, and none died. The results suggest that after weight loss, patients become healthier and are better able to fight the virus, doctors say.

So if getting back into shape is on your to-do list for 2021, there are some things you can do now to start the new year off healthy. Why run on a treadmill for hours on end, when 10-minutes of basically sprinting as fast you can be just as effective at burning fat? Finally, try cold showers. A study from 2009 shows cold showers can increase fat burning by up to 15 times as much as a warm shower. Doing these things can get you on the right track to having a healthier 2021.