Research
Mixed
The association between obesity and severe COVID-19 outcomes is stronger in younger age groups compared to the elderly.
If you are young and have obesity, you might feel invincible, but your risk of severe COVID-19 is actually higher relative to your non-obese peers than it is for elderly obese individuals. Take the virus seriously, get vaccinated, and monitor your symptoms closely, as your body may mount a more severe inflammatory response.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
We also observed a stronger association in younger age groups (β=-0.29 (-0.47 to -0.10)). ... The association was stronger in younger people.
Why this rating
Supported by meta-regression analysis within the systematic review.
Source
Increased COVID-19 Infection Susceptibility and Adverse Outcomes Due to Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Xiaomin Sun et al. · Research Square · 2021
DOI 10.21203/rs.3.rs-244649/v1
Meta-analysis · 5 studies
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Obesity is positively associated with increased susceptibility to COVID-19 infection, higher disease severity, and increased mortality.Good
- Government-mandated lockdowns and quarantine measures contribute to weight gain and the development of obesity through reduced physical activity and increased consumption of hyperpalatable foods.Moderate
Related findings · Mixed
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