A new study reveals that obesity increases the risk of hospitalization or death from infectious diseases by 70%. Published in The Lancet, the research, which included over 540,000 people, suggests that approximately one in ten deaths from infections worldwide could be attributed to obesity. Obesity raises the risk of diseases such as influenza, COVID-19, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, and respiratory tract infections. Scientists emphasize the need for further studies to confirm the biological mechanisms involved. The analysis of the global burden of disease estimated that 0.6 million of the 5.4 million deaths from infections in 2023 were related to obesity. Among high-income countries, the United States recorded the highest proportion, with nearly a quarter of infectious deaths linked to excess weight, while in the United Kingdom, the ratio was one in six. In contrast, Vietnam presented the lowest proportion (1.2%). Researchers stress the need for public health policies that facilitate access to healthy foods, promote physical activity, and encourage weight loss. They also recommend that individuals with obesity keep their vaccinations up to date due to the higher risk of severe infections. Although the study is based on observational data and does not confirm direct causality, scientists warn that the growing obesity epidemic could become a key factor in global mortality from infectious diseases. The study analyzed data from 67,766 Finnish adults and 479,498 participants from the UK Biobank, considering 925 infectious diseases of bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal origin. Participants were followed for an average of 13 to 14 years, assessing their body mass index (BMI) from the start. The results showed that people with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) had a 70% higher risk of hospitalization or death from any infection compared to those with a healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9). The risk increased as body weight rose: those with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40) had a three times greater risk. The infections most associated were influenza, COVID-19, pneumonia, and gastroenteritis. However, no clear increase in severe cases of HIV or tuberculosis was observed. According to researcher Mika Kivimäki, obesity may weaken the immune system, reducing the body's ability to defend against bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi.
