During the holiday season, it’s quite common for one to far more freely indulge in their favourite foods. Some experts are also saying that another reason to pay attention to weight is to protect against COVID-19. One new study suggests that losing weight can reduce the risk of severe disease and even death from COVID-19 as being overweight or obese can allegedly place one at higher risk. 

With obesity being a massive health threat in many countries, Malta included, COVID-19 makes it alleged more dangerous. One US based study found that 30% of COVID hospitalisations were people with obesity. According to another study from August shows that people with obesity are 46% more at risk of getting infected. Severe sickness is also more likely, with a whopping 113% higher chance of being hospitalised, 74% of needing ICU treatment and a dangerous 48% risk of death. 

This increased risk has led many to wonder if losing weight might prevent infection. The problem would be that it is ethically impossible to do randomised controlled trials to determine whether this is true. A large retrospective study published in JAMA surgery suggests that substantial weight loss does make a difference. It looked at records from 21,212 people for more than six years and tracked progress. 

The weight loss among the group that had surgery was associated with lower risk of hospitalisation, need for supplemental oxygen and severe symptoms. This suggests obesity can be a modifiable risk factor for the severity of infection. Obesity is a problem with COVID because of various biological reasons. Fat cells create chronic inflammation and likeliness of blood clotting, whilst also making it harder to breathe. Infection with COVID could make all these worse. 

Many experts state that any weight loss is positive at nearly any weight level. However many scientists also highlight that weight loss itself is not protective enough, unlike vaccination against the virus. Weight loss simply adds an extra benefit. 

#MaltaDaily