Obesity is a known risk factor for the development of severe infection or death from COVID-19. Now a new study, published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism indicates that obesity also seems to result in a significant increase in the risk of developing long-term complications from COVID-19, a syndrome often called long-haul COVID-19.

Overall, 2,839 patients were recruited in the study who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Cleveland Clinic Health System from March through July 2020 who did not need ICU admission and survived the initial phase of illness. Investigators assessed three indicators of possible long-term complications of COVID, including hospital admission, death, and need for diagnostic tests, which occurred >30 days after the first positive test. Over 10 months following the initial COVID-19 infection, 44% of the patients needed hospitalization and 1% had died. The need for diagnostic tests after infection was found to be 25% higher among patients with BMI of 35-39.9 (moderate obesity) and 39% higher among those with BMI of >40 (severe obesity), in comparison with those with a BMI of 18.5-24.9… (Medscape)