Study reveals that obesity raises the risk of infection

A new study found that people with increasing body mass index (BMI) may be at a higher risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The researchers from Chaim Sheba Medical Centre in Israel found that the odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 were 22% higher in patients who were overweight or obese compared to those with a normal BMI.

The study found that people with Class I obesity (BMI 30.0-34.9 kg/m2) were linked to a 27 per cent higher risk of testing positive, which increased to 38 per cent for class II obesity (BMI 35.0-39.9 kg/m2) and raises to 86 percent higher risk in class II or morbid obesity (BMI at or above 40.0 kg/m2).

the team led by Hadar Milloh-Raz, from the varsity, said that Obesity-related factors, including changes to the innate and adaptive immune systems brought on by excess weight, are believed to be associated with an increased risk of contracting various viral diseases. This association between BMI and viral infection risk suggests that a similar relationship may also exist between an individual’s BMI and their risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2.

Across the study period (between March 16 and December 31, 2020), in total 26,030 patients were tested and 1,178 positive COVID-19 results were recorded.

The study further found that people with diabetes were associated with a 30 per cent higher likelihood of testing positive, while the risk of testing positive was almost six times greater in patients with hypertension.

The findings were presented at the 2021 European Congress on Obesity, held online between May 10 and 13.