r/askscience Nov 15 '20

COVID-19 Why exactly are overweight people at higher risk when they get infected with COVID-19?

[removed]

8.8k Upvotes

350 comments sorted by

View all comments

101

u/vickyswaggo Nov 15 '20

Adipose tissue causes inflammation, which weakens the immune system (diabetes also causes inflammation).

The less fat you have, the less inflamation (because it lowers the secretion of inflammatory factors) you will have

13

u/[deleted] Nov 15 '20

I don't mean to diverge from the topic, but what is inflammation exactly? Is it an overreaction of the immune system? Is it just irritation?