Research
Mixed
Obesity, particularly severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2), is an independent risk factor for severe complications and mortality from COVID-19, driven by increased prevalence of comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension, as well as physiological factors such as visceral fat storage.
If you have obesity, you are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 complications due to associated health conditions and physiological factors. Prioritize vaccination, follow public health guidelines strictly, and seek medical attention early if symptoms arise. Healthcare providers should treat you with respect and without bias.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Persons with obesity around the world are already at high risk for severe complications of COVID-19, by virtue of the increased risk of the chronic diseases that obesity drives... Thus, it is likely that obesity shall be an independent risk factor for COVID-19.
Why this rating
Based on observational data from China and parallels with influenza/H1N1, though not a randomized controlled trial of obesity itself.
Source
COVID 19 and the Patient with Obesity – The Editors Speak Out
Donna H. Ryan et al. · Obesity · 2020
DOI 10.1002/oby.22808
narrative_reviewCited 214×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
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