Higher body weight increases risk of COVID-19: Lancet Study

NEW DELHI: A study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal suggested that being overweight is associated with an increased risk of COVID-19, including higher ICU admissions. The researchers from the University of Oxford said that this is the first major study to report the effect of body-weight on the risk of worse outcomes of COVID-19.

The study was based on more than 6.9 million people living in England and also included data from over 20,000 COVID-19 patients who were admitted or died during the pandemic in the country. The researchers found that the risk of worse outcomes of COVID-19 increase in the people with a Body-Mass Index (BMI) above 23 kilograms (kg) per square metre which is considered in the healthy range.

Researchers added that for each unit increase in the BMI, it increases 5 per cent risk of hospitalisation and almost 10 per cent increase in the risk of ICU admissions. They also added that people who are under-weight (less than 18.5 BMI) are also vulnerable to worse outcomes from COVID-19. The study found that the effect of excess weight on the risk of COVID-19 was greatest in young people between 20-39 years of age. These findings suggest that the vaccination policies should prioritise the people with obesity.