While previous research has established that obesity is a well-known risk factor for more severe COVID-19 infections and complications, a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Nexus revealed that obesity is also a significant risk factor for contracting the COVID-19 virus. Obese individuals have more than one-third greater risk of contracting the virus compared with nonobese individuals.

The authors wrote, “While the evidence has linked obesity with severe symptoms of COVID-19, the effect of obesity on susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unclear. Identification of intrinsic factors, which increase the likelihood of exposed individuals succumbing to productive SARS-CoV-2 infection, could help plan mitigation efforts to curb the illness.”

The study’s objective was to explore the role of obesity and age as risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among exposed individuals. The researchers analyzed electronic health record data from Mass General Brigham, and the study population consisted of 687,813 patients who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 from March 2020 to March 2022. The researchers sought to ascertain if obesity at any age increased the percentage of infections. The researchers evaluated data from more than 72,000 participants who had reported contact with or suspected exposure to COVID-19.

Employing a logistic regression model and adjusting for several confounding factors such as age, gender, place of residence, presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, or essential hypertension, researchers observed that obesity had an odds ratio of 1.34, indicating that obese individuals had a 34% greater odds of contracting the COVID-19 virus compared with nonobese individuals.

Based on their findings, the authors concluded that individuals who are obese and are exposed to COVID-19 have a higher risk of infection, indicating that obesity augments both risk for infection and exacerbated outcomes; therefore, early identification of these high-risk populations is crucial for controlling the transmission of the virus.

In a press release, corresponding author Masanori Aikawa, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, stated, “We knew that obesity raises risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, but we were surprised to find that it also increases the likelihood of catching the virus in the first place.”

“This suggests that obesity may play a more significant role in COVID-19 transmission than previously thought. Our results add to the growing body of evidence that maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for overall health,” added Dr. Aikawa. “Although our study was conducted on pre-vaccine data, numerous studies have shown that vaccines are the most effective and safe way to prevent COVID-19 infection and severe outcomes, regardless of weight or other risk factors.”

The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk.