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Obesity drives one in ten infectious disease deaths
- The new Lancet analysis found that 0.6 million of 5.4 million infectious-disease deaths in 2023 were linked to obesity, or 10.8% worldwide, according to University College London.
- Led by Professor Mika Kivimaki, the study analysed data from more than 540,000 people including over 470,000 UK Biobank participants with 13–14 years average follow-up.
- Across 925 infectious diseases, the analysis showed people with obesity faced higher risks, with those at BMI of 40 or higher nearly tripling risk and losing weight cutting risk roughly 20%.
- Study authors including Solja Nyberg recommended policies to support healthy diets, physical activity, weight loss and vaccination, given that 17% of infection deaths in the UK and 26% in the US were linked to obesity.
- The authors cautioned that the study did not establish causation and noted immune dysregulation, chronic low-grade inflammation, metabolic disturbances, impaired lung function, and a strong link to skin and soft tissue infections but no increased risk for HIV or tuberculosis.
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Plymouth HeraldReposted by 
Get Surrey
Get SurreyObesity now linked to one in six infection deaths in UK
Those with severe obesity have three times the death risk
·Plymouth, United Kingdom
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OBESITY ‘RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE IN SIX DEATHS FROM INFECTION IN UK’
Tue 10 February 2026: Obesity is driving one in six deaths from infection in the UK, new research suggests. Experts warned that people with obesity are 70% more likely to be admitted to hospital or die from an infectious disease, while those with the most severe obesity have three times the risk. The trend could get […]
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
L 40%
C 60%
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