New insight into the risk of being overweight
New insight into the risk of being overweight
10 February 2026
The Lancet's published a paper showing people with obesity are 1.7 times more likely to be hospitalised, or die from infection.
The severely obese are three times more at risk.
The study looked at data from more than half a million people in the UK and Finland - over several years.
It links roughly 10 percent of infection-related deaths worldwide with obesity, rising to 15 percent during the pandemic.
The link appears for a wide range of infectious diseases.
© 2026 Newstalk ZB, NZCity