Research
Hormonal
Obesity is strongly associated with increased oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation, and an increased risk of severe outcomes in infectious diseases like COVID-19.
Maintaining a healthy weight is critical not just for metabolic health but also for reducing the risk of severe complications from respiratory infections like COVID-19. Obesity is a major predictor of severe symptoms and critical care admission.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Obesity increases the risk of hospitalization and admission to intensive care units, in addition to greater severity of the disease and higher mortality in COVID-19 patients. Underlying mechanisms include obesity-related comorbidities (T2DM, cardiovascular and renal impairments), immune system impairments, a systemic diffusion of infection, increased type 2 inflammation with effects on the lung parenchyma, raised IL-6 levels, and abnormal secretion of adipokines and cytokines inducing low-grade inflammation.
Why this rating
Cites WHO data and multiple studies linking obesity to COVID-19 severity.
Source
Adipogenesis as a Potential Anti-Obesity Target: A Review of Pharmacological Treatment and Natural Products
Jelena Jakab et al. · Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity · 2021
DOI 10.2147/dmso.s281186
narrative_reviewCited 234×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Inhibiting adipogenesis (the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes) via modulation of transcription factors (C/EBP, PPARγ) and signaling pathways (Wnt, AMPK) is a viable therapeutic strategy for preventing or treating obesity.Moderate
- Natural products and conventional medications (Statins, Fibrates, Niacin) can inhibit or modulate adipogenesis through specific molecular pathways, offering potential anti-obesity effects.Moderate
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