COVID-19 and Obesity: Overlapping of Two Pandemics

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has recently led to worldwide research efforts to identify subjects at greater risk of developing more severe illness: overall obesity displayed a strong correlation with critical illness and major severity of COVID-19 manifestations. SUMMARY: Obesity and metabolic disorders are closely linked to chronic systemic inflammation. The adipose tissue constitutes a source of cytokines, which configure a low-grade inflammation and a hypercoagulation status; in addition, diagnosis and care of obese patients are often complicated by excess weight and ventilation difficulties. KEY MESSAGES: This review aims to examine the intersection between obesity and adverse outcomes of COVID-19, in order to investigate its preventive and/or therapeutic potential in the management of obesity-related COVID-19 complications.