There is a relationship between obesity and COVID-19 but more information is needed

Abstract

We read with particular interest your comments in Obesity regarding the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) epidemic (1) and a related manuscript by Simonnet et al. (2). Resolution of the specific relationship between obesity and COVID-19, two existing public health epidemics, is critically needed to potentially prevent health systems worldwide from being overburdened. Few studies describing COVID-19 with rates of obesity exist, and most are based on heterogeneous populations (Table 1) (2-7). In cohort studies with COVID-19 disease, obesity rates are generally reported as no higher than population-based estimates; in contrast, subgroups of critically ill patients (e.g, intensive care unit (ICU)) report higher prevalence rates of obesity.