3 ms·

The comparison was on case rate. Being obese doesn't make you more likely to catch the virus afaik.

nradov 6y ago
Case rates can't be usefully compared between countries because they all have different testing practices. Being obese actually does make you more likely to catch the virus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7430889/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7430889/
- Pyramus 6y ago
  The study you linked shows that obesity is linked with more severe outcomes, not higher infection rates. I know at least one study that shows infection rates did not change with co-morbidities, see Fig 6b in https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19509-y https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19509-y However I would not be surprised to see slightly higher infection rates mediated by healthier immune systems in healthier folks.
  - nradov 6y ago
    Did you read the article? "... indicating that SARS-CoV-2 is more likely to enter the human body in obese people as compared with non-obese people."
    - Pyramus 6y ago
      "Increased ACE2 expression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who are overweight compared to those not-overweight was observed [3], indicating that SARS-CoV-2 is more likely to enter the human body in obese people as compared with non-obese people. " Not sure why you left out that the study was done on obese patients that also have COPD. You can also check the primary source [3]. "In summary, we have shown increased ACE2 expression in the bronchial epithelium of COPD patients who are overweight compared to those who are not overweight. This may provide increased opportunities for SARS-CoV-2 infection of the respiratory tract. These individuals may be at greater risk of developing severe COVID-19." Again, that's a hypothesis that makes completely sense, but from your study alone we do not know how much greater the risk is - 0.5% 5%, 50%? [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7276828/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7276828/
kalleboo 6y ago
I could see being obese making you more likely to be symptomatic, and hence more likely to get tested and show up as a case statistic

Case rates can't be usefully compared between countries because they all have different testing practices. Being obese actually does make you more likely to catch the virus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7430889/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7430889/

Pyramus 6y ago
The study you linked shows that obesity is linked with more severe outcomes, not higher infection rates. I know at least one study that shows infection rates did not change with co-morbidities, see Fig 6b in https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19509-y https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19509-y However I would not be surprised to see slightly higher infection rates mediated by healthier immune systems in healthier folks.
- nradov 6y ago
  Did you read the article? "... indicating that SARS-CoV-2 is more likely to enter the human body in obese people as compared with non-obese people."
  - Pyramus 6y ago
    "Increased ACE2 expression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who are overweight compared to those not-overweight was observed [3], indicating that SARS-CoV-2 is more likely to enter the human body in obese people as compared with non-obese people. " Not sure why you left out that the study was done on obese patients that also have COPD. You can also check the primary source [3]. "In summary, we have shown increased ACE2 expression in the bronchial epithelium of COPD patients who are overweight compared to those who are not overweight. This may provide increased opportunities for SARS-CoV-2 infection of the respiratory tract. These individuals may be at greater risk of developing severe COVID-19." Again, that's a hypothesis that makes completely sense, but from your study alone we do not know how much greater the risk is - 0.5% 5%, 50%? [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7276828/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7276828/

kalleboo 6y ago

I could see being obese making you more likely to be symptomatic, and hence more likely to get tested and show up as a case statistic