Mixed
Obesity contributes to metabolic derangements, poorer lung and kidney function, vascular health issues, low-grade inflammation, and thrombotic potential, which collectively reduce the body's capacity to cope with the systemic effects of the hyperimmune response in COVID-19.
Obesity affects multiple body systems, making it harder to fight off severe infections like COVID-19. Managing weight can help improve these underlying health issues, potentially reducing the risk of severe illness. Focus on sustainable lifestyle changes to improve overall health.
Obesity contributes to metabolic derangements, worse lung and kidney function, poorer vascular health, and is associated with a low-grade inflammation and a greater thrombotic potential. In this way, obesity lessens an individual’s capacity to cope with the systemic effects of the hyperimmune response.
Why this rating
The mechanisms are well-established in general obesity research and are plausibly linked to COVID-19 severity, though direct causal proof for each specific mechanism in the context of COVID-19 is still evolving.
Source
Obesity as a Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19: Summary of the Best Evidence and Implications for Health Care
Naveed Sattar et al. · Current Obesity Reports · 2021
DOI 10.1007/s13679-021-00448-8
More from this paper
- Higher body mass index (BMI) is a strong, linear, and likely causal risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalization and death, with risk increasing by approximately 5-10% per kg/m² increase in BMI.Strong
- Intentional weight loss, particularly through bariatric surgery, significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization and ICU admission for patients with severe obesity who contract COVID-19.Good
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
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →