Obesity and COVID-19: A Perspective from the European Association for the Study of Obesity on Immunological Perturbations, Therapeutic Challenges, and Opportunities in Obesity

• Published in: Obesity Facts Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 439 - 452
• Main Authors: Goossens, Gijs H., Dicker, Dror, Farpour-Lambert, Nathalie J., Frühbeck, Gema, Mullerova, Dana, Woodward, Euan, Holm, Jens-Christian
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.10.2020; Karger Publishers
• Subjects: ace2; Adipocytes; Betacoronavirus - immunology; Body fat; Coronavirus; coronavirus disease 2019; Coronavirus Infections - immunology; Coronavirus Infections - therapy; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Cytokines; Disease Susceptibility; Genotype & phenotype; Hospitals; Humans; immune response; Immune system; Immune Tolerance - immunology; Immunocompetence - immunology; Immunology; Infections; Infectious diseases; Inflammation; Influenza; Lymphocytes; Mortality; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - immunology; Pandemics; Pathogens; Pathophysiology; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; Pneumonia, Viral - immunology; Pneumonia, Viral - therapy; Position Statement; Prognosis; Renin-Angiotensin System - physiology; renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Viral infections; Weight control; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; COVID-19; ACE2; Obesity; SARS-CoV-2; Immune response; Coronavirus disease 2019; Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
• ISSN: 1662-4025; 1662-4033; 1662-4033
• DOI: 10.1159/000510719

Accumulating evidence suggests that obesity is a major risk factor for the initiation, progression, and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), as a scientific and medical society dedicated to the promotion of health and well-being, is greatly concerned about the concomitant obesity and COVID-19 pandemics and their impact on health and society at large. In this perspective, we will address the inherent immunological perturbations and alterations in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in patients with obesity and COVID-19, and discuss how these impairments may underlie the increased susceptibility and more detrimental outcomes of COVID-19 in people with obesity. Clearly, this has important implications for preventive measures, vaccination, and future therapeutic strategies to combat COVID-19. Furthermore, we will highlight important knowledge gaps and provide suggestions for future research and recommendations for policy actions. Since many new reports on COVID-19 rapidly appear, the present perspective should be seen as a focus for discussion to drive forward further understanding, research initiatives, and clinical management of COVID-19.