Elevated leptin levels hamper the body's ability to fight off infections, in the lungs and elsewhere, Dr. Rebello said. High leptin levels promote a low-grade systemic inflammatory state.
"If you have obesity, there are a number of underlying health issues that make it more difficult for you to fight off a COVID-19 infection," said John Kirwan, Ph.D., Pennington Biomedical Executive Director and a co-author of the review. "Your entire body, including your lungs, may be inflamed. Your immune response is likely compromised, and your lung capacity reduced.
"Add in a virus that further weakens the body's ability to fight infection, that can limit the body's ability to control lung inflammation, and you have the recipe for disaster."
