As noted in an April 16, 2020, report by The New York Times:8

"Obesity may be one of the most important predictors of severe coronavirus illness, new studies say. It's an alarming finding for the United States, which has one of the highest obesity rates in the world."

Obesity Appears To Be Independent Risk Factor for COVID-19

After old age, obesity appears to be the most prominent risk factor for being hospitalized with COVID-19 — doubling the risk of hospitalization in patients under the age of 60 in one study9 — even if the individual has no other obesity-related health problems. A French study10,11 also found obese patients treated for COVID-19 were more likely to require mechanical ventilation.