New Research Weighs In On The Impact Of Obesity And Smoking After Post-COVID Health Challenges

New Research Weighs In On The Impact Of Obesity And Smoking After Post-COVID Health Challenges

In a recent study published in Frontiers in Medicine, researchers from Spain investigated the effects of smoking and obesity on post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sequelae and hospitalization risk. The findings, which shed new light on post-pandemic health challenges, revealed that while obesity significantly amplifies the risk of long COVID symptoms, smoking may only affect cognitive functions.

The study looked at how smoking and obesity impact individuals after a diagnosis of COVID-19, focusing on conditions like fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, and lost sense of smell. With around 60% of participants in each group being women, researchers found that obesity has the broader impact beyond physical health post-COVID-19.

According to the study's lead author, there was significant correlation between obesity status and the presence of chronic conditions such as hypertension or dyslipidemia following COVID-19 infection. However, no correlation was established with other long Covid symptoms like memory disorders.

On the other hand, smoking did have a direct influence on memory disorders but not on cognitive function. On average, nearly 10% of all hospitalization within twelve months post-COVID diagnosis were witnessed in patients suffering long covid and related problems.

The researchers said that overweight/obese individuals are more likely to be at risk of experiencing these post-Covid sequelae than smokers. The study concludes that cigarette smoking has limited influence on the development of long COVID symptoms and associated health issues, while obesity can elevate risks.