Fig. 1.

Obesity and COVID-19. Evidence from multiple sources now links excess adiposity to risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Additionally, many conditions associated with adverse COVID-19 outcomes (e.g. type 2 diabetes, COPD) are also strongly linked to excess adiposity. At the same time, the pandemic and related lockdowns and changes in life circumstances are accelerating weight gain in many in the population. All of these facts means that governments around the world, and particularly in countries where obesity levels are already high, need to prioritise obesity prevention and management efforts. The consequences of not doing so will be high for both people and economies