SARS-CoV-2 and Obesity: “CoVesity”—a Pandemic Within a Pandemic

Zakka, Kimberley; Chidambaram, Swathikan; Mansour, Sami; Mahawar, Kamal; Salminen, Paulina; Almino, Ramos; Schauer, Philip; Kinross, James; Purkayastha, Sanjay

Individuals who are overweight or suffering from obesity are in a chronic state of low-grade inflammation, making them particularly susceptible to developing severe forms of respiratory failure. Studies conducted in past pandemics link obesity with worse health outcomes. This population is thus of particular concern within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the cessation of obesity management services. This systematic review highlights [1] the reciprocal link between the obesity and COVID-19 pandemics, [2] obesity as a risk factor for more severe disease in past pandemics, [3] potential mechanisms that make individual’s suffering from obesity more susceptible to severe disease and higher viral load, and [4] the need to safely resume bariatric services as recommended by expert guidelines, in order to mitigate the health outcomes of an already vulnerable population.