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Study: Higher BMI linked to flu complications, hospitalization

82 views · Published 19 March 2018 · 1:12 · Indexed 25 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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CINCINNATI (WKRC) - There are lots of things that can reduce your risk of getting the flu, but a new study says that your weight might make a difference, not just in getting the flu, but in winding up in the hospital with complications from it.

A new long-term study in the International Journal of Obesity found that the risk goes up every time your BMI goes up if you are overweight or obese.

Researchers in the study found those who had higher body weights, had comparable risks for flu hospitalizations that were similar to those who have heart disease or diabetes.

Researchers say this adds to a growing body of evidence that body weight does play a role in flu and mainly respiratory complications from it.

After analyzing more than 240,000 adults, researchers found this was true even when they adjusted for other risk factors such as age, gender, smoking status, income and where you live.

There is no word on exactly why, but flu can be influenced by immunity, and that can be influenced by a lot of things, including activity levels.

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