Beware of extra pounds: obesity increases the probability of dying from an infection by 70%
Obesity significantly increases the risk of hospitalization and death from most infectious diseases, including flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and urinary and respiratory infections.
TL;DR
- Obesity significantly increases the risk of hospitalization and death from most infectious diseases, including flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and urinary and respiratory infections.
- Individuals with obesity have a 70% higher risk of developing severe forms of infectious diseases and triple the likelihood of death or hospitalization in severe cases.
- Excess weight may have contributed to 0.6 million infectious disease deaths globally in 2023.
- Country-specific data shows significant differences, with the US at one in four deaths, the UK at one in six, and Vietnam at around 1.2%.
- The risk of severe outcomes increases with higher body weight, with severely obese individuals (BMI ≥ 40) facing three times the risk compared to those with a healthy weight.
- The association held for common infections like flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, urinary, and respiratory infections, but not for severe HIV or tuberculosis.
- Urgent promotion of weight loss policies, including access to healthy food, physical exercise, and vaccination for obese individuals, is recommended.