Obesity Boosts Risk of Severe Infections, Study Reveals

Individuals with significant obesity face a much higher likelihood of experiencing serious illness or even dying from infections, as indicated by a recent review of health data involving over 540,000 patients in the UK and Finland.

Although being mildly overweight increases the risk only slightly, individuals with class 3 obesity face a risk that is approximately three times greater compared to those with a normal weight, according to a study conducted by a research group headed by Mika Kivimäki from University College London and Solja Nyberg from the University of Helsinki, which was published in The Lancet journal.

Individuals who are overweight already faced a higher risk when it came to COVID-19. The research began with findings from several years prior: "Studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic indicated that people with obesity were more likely to experience severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, as seen in higher rates of hospitalization and death," the researchers noted.

Nevertheless, it remained uncertain if this was also true for other infectious diseases.

The group headed by Kivimäki and Nyberg analyzed health information from two Finnish sources and the British UK Biobank to explore the relationship between being overweight or obese and the severity of infections, including hospitalization or fatalities.

The study revealed that being mildly overweight raised the risk of severe or deadly infections by 10% (Finland) and 13% (Britain). For individuals with class 1 obesity (body mass index between 30 and 34.9), the risk was 47% (Finland) and 53% (Britain) greater compared to those with a normal weight.

A body mass index of 40 or higher, classified as Class 3 obesity, resulted in a 2.69 times (Finland) and 3.07 times (Britain) greater risk. Additional elements like gender, age, and economic standing had minimal impact on this outcome.

"It's possible that obesity impairs the immune system's capacity to combat infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi, potentially resulting in more serious illness outcomes," stated Mika Kivimäki in a release from The Lancet.

Possible reasons may include elements linked to obesity, like a nutrient-dense environment that supports the growth of microbes, along with insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels, and ongoing mild inflammation.

Nevertheless, the researchers mentioned that although the data demonstrate the connection between being overweight and the risk of infection, they do not clarify the specific causes behind this relationship.

The scientists utilized the results from the "Global Burden of Disease" study to determine the likelihood of severe infection outcomes for different world regions and individual nations.

The researchers involved in the study caution that conditions may deteriorate in the years ahead. "With global obesity rates expected to grow, the count of fatalities and hospital admissions linked to obesity-related infections will also rise," Nyberg stated.

To minimize the chances of serious infections and other health issues linked to obesity, Nyberg stated that there is currently a pressing requirement for actions that support individuals in maintaining good health and achieving weight loss.

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