Covid Obesity

About Covid Obesity

Obesity was identified as a major risk factor for severe COVID 19 early in the pandemic. A CDC study found that approximately 78 percent of hospitalized COVID patients were overweight or obese. The risk of hospitalization was approximately 3 times higher for individuals with BMI over 30 compared to normal weight. Mortality risk increased with higher BMI. The mechanisms include impaired immune function, chronic inflammation, mechanical compression of lungs, and increased thrombotic risk. Obesity also increased the risk of severe outcomes from H1N1 influenza in 2009. The obesity pandemic and the COVID pandemic interacted synergistically. A 2021 World Obesity Federation report found that countries with high obesity prevalence tended to have higher COVID mortality. The relationship between obesity and COVID outcomes highlighted the importance of addressing non communicable disease risk factors for pandemic preparedness. Some researchers argued for considering obesity alongside age as a primary risk factor in COVID triage and vaccination prioritization.