Data from France and the UK have showed a disproportionately higher prevalence of obesity in patients with COVID-19 admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) compared with general population data.

 About 10% of ICU patients in the UK have a BMI of 40 kg/m2 or more, and evidence shows increased mortality among this group.

 The UK Government advice for those with a BMI of at least 40 kg/m2 is to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures. This message has created confusion and fear among many people living with obesity because of uncertainty about their risk or what actions they should take, including people with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more, who are also over-represented in ICU but not listed as at risk.

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