The risk of severe outcomes with COVID-19 tends to increase with excess weight in a linear manner starting in the normal body mass index ranges, and the effect seems to be independent of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and stronger among younger individuals and Blacks, suggests new research.

The authors noted that even a small rise in body mass index above 23 kg/m² is a risk factor for adverse outcomes after COVID-19 infection. The prospective, community-based study, assessed data on around 7 million individuals registered in the UK QResearch database from January 24 through April 30, 2020. Patients had a mean BMI of 27 kg/m². A total of 13,503 patients (0.20%) were admitted to the hospital, with 1,601 (0.02%) admitted to an ICU, and 5,479 (0.08%) died after testing positive. The findings are published in the Lancet Diabetes Endocrinology… (Medscape)