The mission of World Obesity Federation is to lead and drive global efforts to reduce, prevent and treat obesity.

Over the past few months, we have seen that obesity-related conditions clearly worsen the effect of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that people with heart disease and diabetes are at higher risk of COVID-19 complications. Given the extremely high rates of obesity around the globe, it puts a high percentage of the population at greater risk of contracting coronavirus with severe complications that in turn require intensive care treatment. 

This presents challenges in management as it is more difficult to intubate patients with obesity. It can be more challenging to obtain diagnostic imaging (as there are weight limits on imaging machines), patients are more difficult to position and transport by nursing staff. Special beds and positioning/transport equipment are available in specialized surgery units, but may not be widely available elsewhere in hospitals and certainly not in all countries. In general health systems are already not well set up to manage patients with obesity. We must understand the underlying impacts that obesity will have on patients with obesity both during and post pandemic, and ensure prevention efforts remain a priority.